{"id":2194,"date":"2014-09-12T16:35:45","date_gmt":"2014-09-12T23:35:45","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.everywomanover29.com\/blog\/?p=2194"},"modified":"2016-05-31T13:18:51","modified_gmt":"2016-05-31T20:18:51","slug":"benzodiazepines-and-alzheimers-risk","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.everywomanover29.com\/blog\/benzodiazepines-and-alzheimers-risk\/","title":{"rendered":"Benzodiazepines linked to increased Alzheimer’s risk and other serious concerns"},"content":{"rendered":"

\"pill<\/p>\n

A new study published last week shows that benzodiazepines are linked to an increased Alzheimer’s disease risk. A useful synopsis was published on the Harvard Health Publications blog<\/a>.<\/p>\n

A team of researchers from France and Canada linked benzodiazepine use to an increased risk of being diagnosed with Alzheimer\u2019s disease. In the study, the greater a person\u2019s cumulative dose of benzodiazepines, the higher his or her risk of Alzheimer\u2019s.<\/em><\/p>\n

The type of drug taken also mattered. People who were on a long-acting benzodiazepine like diazepam (Valium) and flurazepam (Dalmane) were at greater risk than those on a short-acting one like triazolam (Halcion), lorazepam (Ativan), alprazolam (Xanax), and temazepam (Restoril).<\/em><\/p>\n

You can read the full British Medical Journal study here<\/a>.<\/p>\n

The possible increased risk of Alzheimer\u2019s disease is just part of the picture. There are a host of other very serious issues with this medication.<\/p>\n

Jeremy C. Fox wrote a great article in the Boston Globe<\/em> called \u201cWhen withdrawal is the hardest part<\/a>.\u201d\u00a0 It covers Alison Page\u2019s struggle with recovering from difficulties associated with benzodiazepine withdrawal.<\/p>\n

\u2026 Alison ” was experiencing withdrawal between doses of Ativan, a drug often prescribed for anxiety or insomnia. After taking a dose that night” Alison “felt fine \u2014 for the moment. But her struggle to recover continues more than two years later.<\/em><\/p>\n

While rampant abuse of heroin and prescription opiates dominates public attention, dependency on benzodiazepines \u2014 a group of tranquilizers that includes drugs such as Ativan, Klonopin, and Xanax \u2014 remains less widely acknowledged or understood. <\/em><\/p>\n

Doctors say benzodiazepines are effective for short-term stress, as in the days following the death of a loved one or another emotionally difficult event. But problems can arise when use continues for more than a few weeks.”<\/em><\/p>\n

I don\u2019t feel any benzodiazepine prescriptions should be written. There are much better ways to deal with anxiety \u2013 like addressing possible low GABA and tryptophan<\/a>; addressing low zinc levels; addressing the gut and possible dysbiosis; quitting sugar and caffeine; figuring out if gluten is an issue<\/a>; eating to control blood sugar; and eating quality food that includes grass-fed red meat, wild fish, healthy fats and organic produce.<\/p>\n

Alison “was prescribed Ativan by a psychiatrist in 2009, she said, as she adjusted to working as a receptionist after graduating from Northeastern University. As a shy person, she found the front-and-center role a tough fit, she said.”<\/em><\/p>\n

Many of my shy and introverted clients have pyroluria<\/a>, a social anxiety condition. Addressing this with zinc, vitamin B6 and evening primrose oil solves the problem. Instead many people are prescribed benzos rather casually and end up like Alison, having to deal with all these horrible withdrawal effects from the benzos: increased anxiety, dizziness, terrible fears, less able to deal with stress, prone to getting sick and not sleeping for months.<\/p>\n

Alison joined the BenzoBuddies.org support group and it was through this group that she learned what was happening to her. This is a great group that supports folks who are tapering off benzos.<\/p>\n

I was fortunate to have interviewed Dr. Catherine Pittman on the Anxiety Summit<\/a> in June \u2013 Benzodiazapines: Risks vs Benefits<\/a> – and she shared the results of a survey she did with members of BenzoBuddies.org.<\/p>\n

Here are a few facts and gems from our interview:<\/p>\n