medication & car accidents

[Guest guest]

Medications and Car Accidents

It is not clear why older adults have a higher rate of car accidents. Some

speculate that vision loss or slowed reaction time plays a role. But a recent

Canadian study suggests that a class of long-lasting prescription medications

may contribute to these accidents as well.

After studying records of nearly 225,000 people age 67 to 84, researchers at

McGill University in Montreal found a 45 percent increase in injury-causing

car accidents in people who had been taking a long-acting group of

benzodiazepines. These drugs often are prescribed to treat anxiety or

insomnia. The medications associated with higher accident rates are the

long-lasting ones, which can stay in the bloodstream for more than 24 hours.

The drugs associated with the higher accident rates include many popular

medications, such as:

•Clonazepam (Klonopin)

•epam Valium)

•Clorazepate (Tranxene)

•Chlordiazepoxide (Libratabs)

•Flurazepam (Dalmane)

Other benzodiazepines are not as long-lasting. Shorter-acting drugs in this

group include:

•Alprazolam (Xanax)

•Lorazepam (Ativan)

•Triazolam (Halcion)

Keep in mind, though, that the shorter-acting drugs also can impair driving

and other skills. These medications have their strongest effects in the first

hours after you take them.

If you are an older adult taking long-lasting benzodiazepines for insomnia or

anxiety, talk with your healthcare provider. You may want to switch to

another medication that is not linked to a higher risk for accidents.

However, do not stop taking medication without talking to your doctor first.

Stopping these drugs suddenly can lead to seizures or severe anxiety attacks

in some cases.

[Guest guest]

> Other benzodiazepines are not as long-lasting. Shorter-acting drugs

in this

> group include:

>

> •Alprazolam (Xanax)

> •Lorazepam (Ativan)

> •Triazolam (Halcion)

>

We were told by a reputable Dr., that Ativan (Lorazepam) was longer

lasting than Valium, thus his switching to it at one time.

She never took it long enough for us to be able to tel, though. Just

curious.

Terry

Newton@...

[Guest guest]

> Other benzodiazepines are not as long-lasting. Shorter-acting drugs

in this

> group include:

>

> •Alprazolam (Xanax)

> •Lorazepam (Ativan)

> •Triazolam (Halcion)

>

We were told by a reputable Dr., that Ativan (Lorazepam) was longer

lasting than Valium, thus his switching to it at one time.

She never took it long enough for us to be able to tel, though. Just

curious.

Terry

Newton@...