Long-Term Benzodiazepine Use and Discontinuation Among Patients in the U.S. Veterans Health Administration

• DOI: 10.1176/appi.ps.202100617
• Publication Date: 2022-05-03T07:01:10Z
• Authors: Christine Timko; Katherine J. Hoggatt; Aryan Esmaeili; Eleanor Lewis; Mai Chee Lor; Donovan T. Maust; Andrea L. Nevedal
• Keywords: Discontinuation; Depression; Major depressive episode

In 2019, nearly three-quarters of Veterans Health Administration patients who were prescribed benzodiazepines had been taking these medications long term (>30 days), and half the long-term users over age 65, raising concerns about such risks as falls, sedation, confusion.