BIC Updates
We welcome Denise Senyk, M.D. to our medical advisory board.
Our Outreach
- Dr. Christy Huff was the keynote speaker at the California Society of Addiction Medicine‘s conference
- Dr. Christy Huff spoke about Benzodiazepine-Induced Neurological Dysfunction: What the Caregiver Should Know for Benzo Warrior Community
- Chris Paige, LCSW appeared on The Benzodiazepine Podcast with Dr. Mark Leeds Living With Akathisia Due To Benzodiazepine Use
- Jennifer Swantkowski, Ph.D., LCSW appeared on The Anxious Truth Podcast Anxiety And Benzo Withdrawal : Pain vs Suffering
- Nicole Lamberson, PA appeared on The People’s Pharmacy Podcast Are We Medicating Normal Emotions?
- New Dr. Mark Leeds blog: Are benzos drugs that cause histamine intolerance and withdrawal allergies?
Interesting Research
- A Lancet study showed that concurrent utilization of gabapentin, opioids, and benzodiazepines is associated with multiple adverse outcomes, including respiratory depression and substance-related overdose. The study population was drawn from disabled Medicare beneficiaries.
- A new survey reveals considerable differences between psychiatrists’ perceptions about the safety and therapeutic value of certain psychoactive drugs and how those same drugs are categorized under U.S. policy. The results are further discussed in this news article.
- Physicians who received a letter from a medical examiner notifying them of a recent patient’s fatal overdose prescribed fewer benzodiazepines, a secondary analysis of clinical trial data showed. The results are also summarized here.
- This study showed that use of psychotropic medication, including benzodiazepines, is associated with an increased risk of Parkinson’s disease in older women. Hypnotics (Z-drugs) did not carry the same risk in this population. The study is summarized in this news article.
- This systematic review and meta-analysis showed that antihistamines are superior to benzodiazepines for treatment of acute vertigo, and use of the latter should be discouraged. Read more in this MedPageToday article.
- This study of the Veteran Affairs population by Maust et al. reviews strategies to reduce benzodiazepine prescriptions for older adults. Facilities that utilized active strategies including individualized recommendations, administrative barriers to prescribing, and performance measures to incentivize clinicians were more successful in curbing prescriptions. Read more here.
- A Lancet study showed that “several pharmacologic interventions for insomnia disorder appear to be more effective than others….. Some drugs are more reliable for short-term treatment, and some may produce substantial side effects.” Read more here.
- A Spanish study showed that women are more likely to receive unnecessary medical interventions (such as benzodiazepines for people >65 years) than men. Read more here.
- This recent study showed a 31% decline in use of sleep medication between 2013 to 2018. Read more here.
- This study on cognitive effects in long-term benzodiazepine users concluded that there is an “overall detrimental cognitive effect in long-term benzodiazepine users rather than specific effects. Therefore, long-term benzodiazepine use should be avoided, and once present, tailored interventions aimed at tapering benzodiazepines are warranted.”
- This study found that the rate of benzodiazepine prescription is higher in patients with inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) as compared to the general population. The authors conclude that strategies to reduce prescription of benzodiazepines and offering alternatives are warranted in this population. Read more here.
- In this Nature cohort study based in South Korea, “chronic BZD use contributed to a higher risk of the need for hospitalization among COVID-19 patients, whereas BZD use did not increase the risk of SARS-CoV-2 test positivity, severe outcomes, or mortality.”
Benzo Updates
- Holly Hardman’s documentary As Prescribed is out. The documentary explores patient harm caused by benzodiazepine prescription.
- Renee A. Schuls-Jacobson’s book, Psychiatrized: Waking Up After a Decade of Bad Medicine, is available in audio and print format. The autobiography focuses on Renee’s harm and healing journal from prescribed clonazepam.
Benzo-related Media
- Independent: Hundreds of thousands more women than men prescribed powerful anti-anxiety drugs ‘harder to come off than heroin’
- US Magazine:‘Chicago Justice’ Alum Lindsey Pearlman’s Cause of Death Revealed After She Was Found Dead at 43
- The Blast: Naomi Judd Left A Suicide Note For Family, On Multiple Prescription Drugs During Death
