Brochure insomnie - version anglaise

Risks related to benzodiazepine use and benefits of withdrawal in the elderly Benzodiazepine treatment exposes the elderly to: - falls (grade B) and their consequences - cognitive impairment (grade C) - traffic accidents, especially in drivers (grade C). Gradual withdrawal does not impact negatively on quality of life (grade C) and may improve some cognitive functions (grade C) (Source: “How to discontinue benzodiazepines and closely related drugs in the PROGRAM FOR 2007 - 2010 elderly” – HAS guidelines 2007) “Improving the prescription of psychotropic drugs PROGRAM 2007 - 2010 in the elderly in France” STATISTICS « Improving the prescription of psychotropic drugs in the French elderly” In France, 32% of over the over-65s and 40% of the over-85s were Sleep complaints prescribed hypnotics or anxiolytics between September and December INSOM NIA 2007 (Source: Report of the French National Health Insurance funds (CNAMTS, RSI, MSA), Appraisal step 2008 2008 Milestone French National Institute of Public Health Surveillance (InVS), HAS, and the working group ”Improving the prescription of psychotropic drugs in the elderly, in press). These statistics confirm earlier estimations, e.g. those of the 2006 report of the Parliamentary Office for health policy assessment (OPEPS) on BACKGROUND prescriptions dating back three years or more (Source: OPEPS 2006 report: “Proper use of psychotropic drugs”).