Is it possible to deprescribe benzodiazepine receptor agonists in older adults?
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.15448/2357-9641.2023.1.45098Keywords:
Deprescriptions, Receptors, GABA-A, AgedAbstract
Aim: to analyze the viability and related factors for deprescribing benzodiazepine receptor agonists (BZRA).
Methods: this is a longitudinal, prospective, interventional study performed with older adults assisted at a geriatric psychiatry outpatient clinic; these were divided into two groups: BZRA users and non-users. The instruments used in this study were a general questionnaire, the Geriatric Depression Scale (short form), the Geriatric Anxiety Inventory, and the Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index.
Results: we evaluated 74 patients, 40 (54.1%) of which were BZRA users and 34 (45.9%) were non-users, with an average age of 71.3 ± 7.5 years. Patients who used BZRA had a higher dropout rate of the deprescription process 26 (65%). Seven patients completely stopped using BZRAs (17.5%) and five reduced their use (12.5%). The mean scores for depression and anxiety symptoms were lower at the final assessment. As to sleep quality, BZRA users presented higher baseline values and both groups presented reductions in scores at the end of the treatment.
Conclusion: deprescribing is viable and safe. However, there is resistance by both the patient and prescribers. The levels of anxiety, depression, and sleep quality improved after discontinuing BZRA.
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