NYT - weaning older patients off sleeping pills

http://newoldage.blogs.nytimes.com/2014/07/02/weaning-older-patients-off-of-sleeping-pills/

Another article from the same blog.  Really well written with lots of good links.

Good Canadian research being done in this area.  So glad to see.

SeekingSanity

http://newoldage.blogs.nytimes.com/2014/07/02/weaning-older-patients-off-of-sleeping-pills/

 

Another article from the same blog.  Really well written with lots of good links.

 

Good Canadian research being done in this area.  So glad to see.

 

 

SeekingSanity

Thanks for posting S......but the comment that patients will have just a few

nights of insomnia is wishful thinking Dr. Tannenbaum.....

i don't buy it.

http://newoldage.blogs.nytimes.com/2014/07/02/weaning-older-patients-off-of-sleeping-pills/

 

Another article from the same blog.  Really well written with lots of good links.

 

Good Canadian research being done in this area.  So glad to see.

 

 

SeekingSanity

 

Thanks for posting S......but the comment that patients will have just a few

nights of insomnia is wishful thinking Dr. Tannenbaum.....

i don't buy it.

Hi Morreweg,

I think that for many people, their journey off the z-drugs can be relatively straightforward.  My own mother did a taper off zopiclone at age 82 at the same time I came off - she has had no issues whatsoever.  No withdrawal symptoms.  Came off over 9 months with relative ease.  My journey is quite different.

So I don't fault Dr. Tannenbaum for thinking this can be done - just that she hasn't much experience with protracted withdrawal.  My own GP/PCP hasn't successfully managed to convince anyone to come off these medications - he has inherited a stable of patients from other doctors on these drugs and NONE of them, with the exception of me, will even entertain the idea of coming off.  That despite mounting evidence that these drugs cause problems, particularly as we age.

Thanks for taking the time to write your thoughts on the post though - you've seen the wars.  I truly appreciate your comments all over the boards, you are very kind and calmly reassuring to others.  Mad props!  I've been too ill to post in my WD until recently - now that I'm doing a bit better, I'm happy to be able to reach out to help.

SS

Hi SS, I'm glad to see you are feeling better now and can be more

active on the Forum.

This process has made me become a bit militant towards Doctors,

Pharma Industries and all those so called surveys, scientific research or

evidence.

thanks for posting though.....always interested to see more info,

take care.

Thanks Morreweg.  I'm glad to be feeling well enough to post a bit more.

It is a good thing though, that some doctors are actively interested in getting patients off this stuff.  The longer that people stay on them, the more damage to their brains.  Alzheimers, broken hips, cognitive impairment - the more people who become aware of issues, the better.  In Canada, one third of people over the age of 65 are on sleeping medications - it boggles the mind really.

These are not innocuous.  They do cause damage - even if it is unseen.  I'm a bit of a crusader and by no means am I a compliant, pill-seeking patient.  I was put on these in pretty dire circumstances after my husband's suicide.  I was an accidental addict but I also didn't do my research - I had long been aware of the issues with "benzos" but didn't realize that z-drugs were the same thing.  I've never had any issues with dependency or addiction, have avoided drugs like the plague and have always tapered and weaned myself off any psychiatric medications I've taken despite the doctor's dire prognostications and warnings.  That being said, I have been helped enormously by bio-identical hormones and the doctors who diagnosed my adrenal exhaustion and at times, I've needed to reach out for help from psychiatrists to survive life-threatening depressions until I figured out the underlying cause of my insomnia and depression.

SeekingSanity

Thank you for posting SS.

Glad you are feeling better too:)

I find Dr Tannebaum's comments naive, or, narrow in scope.

Perhaps due to her limited exposure to difficult tapers, a certain percentage of the geriatric population will be physiologically addicted and iatrogenicly affected; not psychologically.  And that she does not highlite this as a possibility will leave the struggling percentage of the geriatric population believing that they are unable to discontinue due to failing a 12-20 week taper. A more comprehensive report is needed.

In depth research is long over due and needs to factor in genetics, liver detox variabilities and nutritional components to better ensure a safe exit strategy off of benzos for the unfortunate, over sensitized group.

Marija

Amen Marija, amen.  Preaching to the converted.  But you have to start somewhere and isn't it good that they are at least trying to start thinking about taking patients off as they age.

My doctors here in Vancouver have been very helpful.  The addictions medicine specialist team at Daytox here in Surrey is very knowledgeable about benzo/z-drug withdrawal and here, free of charge, to help to anyone who self-refers.  They are getting the word out.  There is help here and it is knowlegeable help.  But it is interesting to note that people, like my mother, do come off without issue - they are perhaps the majority.  We'll never know until more studies are done.

I'm glad to see a growing awareness in the medical community about the issue of benz/z-drugs in the aging.  Now we need more research on how to address withdrawal issues and how best to support people to taper off these medications safely.

Thanks for the note of encouragement - I AM SO GLAD to be feeling better and to be able to post.  Glad to be able to reach out and hopefully help some others.

SeekingSanity

Thanks for your reply SS .....I'm well aware that Canada is doing a lot

of important research etc. Lucky to live there.....

In Europe its like Silence is golden.... except for Denmark (Peter Gotzsche).

Morreweg,

Peter Gotzsche is an important voice - I am convinced that he will bring a lot of awareness to this movement.

I do see a "sea-change" of awareness starting to happen here in Canada.  Small but perceptible changes in attitudes.  We have some amazing doctors who are talking openly about this issue here.  The GPs are starting to get the message.  Psychiatry will be the last to change I think, they are in the midst of an onslaught of broken people, ever increasing numbers of people in distress, seeking help.  I think they are in a bubble, they can't see the forest for the trees as they say.

I think that things will get better - look at the fact that BBs has been around for 10 years.  What an amazing tool and resource.  Word grows organically.  We are all survivors and our stories count.

Thank you again for all you do M.  My hat is off to you.

SeekinSanity

SS,

How encouraging to hear the growing  movement & awareness in the Vancouver lower mainland!

It is interesting that there are those you discontinue without incident. Studying this,  hopefully, is on the horizon. I am glad your mother did not suffer.

Take good care,

Marija

Thanks Marija, if I had to choose between us, I'd happily serve myself up every time.  I would suffer for her to go free in her eighties.  It does make for some interesting conversations though as my family are not very empathetic, my Mom in particular.  If she sailed through WD, then according to her, everyone can.  No sympathy there for me!  But it is ok, I am strong - and used to it.

I have one good friend tapering off zopiclone right now but her resolve is not strong sadly, she has gone through a lot with metastatic cancer.  We'll have to see how she manages.

Thanks for your kind words.

SS