Wash.Post, Jan/17:"A little anxiety can be good, but too much worrying can..."

The title of this Washington Post article is "A little anxiety can be good, but too much worrying can hurt your health".

 

There's a good section on benzodiazepines, as follows:

 

Be wary if your doctor recommends benzodiazepines, such as alprazolam (Xanax), diazepam (Valium) and lorazepam (Ativan). They can work fast but have strong effects that can increase the risk of falls and fractures, worsen memory, cause confusion and sedation, and lead to drug interactions, addiction and overdoses, especially in older adults.

 

Those drugs should be used only short term for severe anxiety, and only until psychotherapy and antidepressants kick in. Even more worrisome are antipsychotic medications such as quetiapine (Seroquel and generic), which are sometimes used to reduce anxiety in residents of nursing homes. They pose many risks and should be used only as a last resort.

 

https://www.washingtonpost.com/national/health-science/a-little-anxiety-can-be-good-but-too-much-worrying-can-hurt-your-health/2017/01/19/2fc9f626-a51b-11e6-ba59-a7d93165c6d4_story.html 

I'm so glad that benzos are getting more exposure!!! It's good to see them promoting natural ways of getting rid of anxiety, too. Did you read the comment at the end? "They say that a healthy person is someone who hasn't had a complete workup. The problem I see with post-50 folks is that if you worry about your health and go to the doctor about it eventually they'll find something and then you really will be unhealthy."

 

That's interesting. Older people tend to go to the doctor more often, and they are prescribed pills more often also.

Most definitely, Terry. There should be much more focus on lifestyle changes, and much less on medication.