What major side effects should all elderly patients avoid while taking benzodiazepines?
Benzodiazepines should be used with extreme caution in the elderly due to the risk for excessive sedation, confusion, falls and fractures.
Do benzodiazepines cause sweating?
Physiological dependence on benzodiazepines is accompanied by a withdrawal syndrome which is typically characterized by sleep disturbance, irritability, increased tension and anxiety, panic attacks, hand tremor, sweating, difficulty in concentration, dry wretching and nausea, some weight loss, palpitations, headache.
Is sweating a side effect of diazepam?
If Valium is discontinued abruptly after long term use, it may lead to seizures, insomnia, headaches, nausea, vomiting, lightheadedness, sweating, anxiety, and fatigue.
How does Diazepam affect the elderly?
However, elderly patients are more likely to have unwanted effects (eg, severe drowsiness, dizziness, confusion, clumsiness, or unsteadiness) and age-related kidney problems, which may require caution and an adjustment in the dose for patients receiving diazepam.
What is the safest benzodiazepine for elderly?
Short-half-life benzodiazepines, such as oxazepam, alprazolam, and triazolam, are usually recommended for older adults, because these agents do not accumulate in the blood, are rapidly cleared from circulation, and offer greater dosage flexibility.
Is there anything you can take to stop sweating?
The easiest way to tackle excessive sweating is with an antiperspirant, which most people already use on a daily basis. Most antiperspirants contain aluminum salts. When you roll them onto your skin, antiperspirants form a plug that blocks perspiration.
How can I stop sweating from anxiety?
Anxiety sweating is your body’s way of responding to a faster heart rate and a rush of adrenaline caused by nerves….Try these long-term tips to prevent sweating when you’re nervous.
- Wear loose clothes.
- Invest in a strong antiperspirant.
- Exercise regularly.
- Stay in shape.
- Meditate.
- Try a low salt diet.
What are the long term effects of benzodiazepines?
The long-term use of benzodiazepines may have a similar effect on the brain as alcohol, and is also implicated in depression, anxiety, post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), mania, psychosis, sleep disorders, sexual dysfunction, delirium, and neurocognitive disorders.
Should elderly take sleeping pills?
Sleeping pills can have serious, or even deadly side effects. All sedative-hypnotic drugs have special risks for older adults. Seniors are likely to be more sensitive to the drugs’ effects than younger adults. And these drugs may stay in their bodies longer.
What helps an elderly person with dementia sleep?
Melatonin might help improve sleep and reduce sundowning in people with dementia. Provide proper light. Bright light therapy in the evening can lessen sleep-wake cycle disturbances in people with dementia. Adequate lighting at night also can reduce agitation that can happen when surroundings are dark.
How do benzodiazepines affect the elderly?
Benzodiazepines can impair cognition, mobility, and driving skills in older people, as well as increase the risk of falls. A recent study also found an association between benzodiazepine use in older people and increased risk of Alzheimer’s disease.
What causes excessive sweating in elderly?
Common causes include infections (night sweats from TB), malignancies (e.g. Hodgkin’s disease), metabolic diseases and disorders (thyrotoxicosis, diabetes, hypoglycemia), meno- pause, and medications (e.g. Tricyclic anti-depressants, propranolol, venlafaxine) Mechanism: There are two types of sweat glands.
What medications make you sweat a lot?
Insulin, glyburide (Glynase), glipizide (Glucotrol), and pioglitazone (Actos) are common medications that may cause sweating. Why? Due to alterations in blood sugar with these medications, sweating is a reported side effect. Sweating can also be a sign of low blood sugar if you are diabetic.
How do I stop sweating from medication?
Treatments to suppress excessive sweating include [10]: Topical aluminium chloride in antiperspirant. A topical anticholinergic agent such as glycopyrrolate or oxybutynin gel. Oral anticholinergic medication such as oxybutynin or benztropine.
When should I be worried about excessive sweating?
Seek immediate medical attention if your heavy sweating is accompanied by lightheadedness, chest pain or nausea. Contact your doctor if: You suddenly begin to sweat more than usual. Sweating disrupts your daily routine.
What drugs should not be taken with diazepam?
Some products that may interact with this drug include: clozapine, fluvoxamine, orlistat, sodium oxybate. The risk of serious side effects (such as slow/shallow breathing, severe drowsiness/dizziness) may be increased if this medication is taken with other products that may also cause drowsiness or breathing problems.
Which benzodiazepine is best for elderly?
Is temazepam safe for older adults over 8 weeks?
The average nightly dosage used was 20 mg for both the temazepam and placebo groups and 16 mg for the combined condition. Patients receiving temazepam plus CBT used less drugs, with approximately the same incidence of adverse effects. Conclusion: Temazepam is a safe hypnotic for use by older adults over an 8-week treatment period.
What are the possible side effects of temazepam?
Applies to temazepam: oral capsule. General. The most commonly reported side effects included drowsiness, headache, and fatigue. Nervous system. Lightheadedness, slurred speech, and unsteadiness usually occur at the start of treatment and disappear with repeated doses.
How much Temazepam should I take to sleep?
The maximum dose was reached by 10 patients receiving temazepam, 14 placebo and 7 in the combined treatment. The average nightly dosage used was 20 mg for both the temazepam and placebo groups and 16 mg for the combined condition. Patients receiving temazepam plus CBT used less drugs, with approximately the same incidence of adverse effects.
What are the side effects of lorazepam?
dizziness, faintness, or lightheadedness when getting up suddenly from a lying or sitting position Some side effects may occur that usually do not need medical attention. These side effects may go away during treatment as your body adjusts to the medicine.