Mortality and concurrent use of opioids and hypnotics in older patients: A retrospective cohort study.

ABSTRACT:

Background

Benzodiazepine hypnotics and the related nonbenzodiazepine hypnotics (z-drugs) are among the most frequently prescribed medications for older adults. Both can depress respiration, which could have fatal cardiorespiratory effects, particularly among patients with concurrent opioid use. Trazodone, frequently prescribed in low doses for insomnia, has minimal respiratory effects, and, consequently, may be a safer hypnotic for older patients. Thus, for patients beginning treatment with benzodiazepine hypnotics or z-drugs, we compared deaths during periods of current hypnotic use, without or with concurrent opioids, to those for comparable patients receiving trazodone in doses up to 100 mg.

Methods and findings

The retrospective cohort study in the United States include

SUBMITTER: Ray WA 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC8321368 | biostudies-literature | 2021 Jul

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature