Study Finds Decline in Long-Term Benzodiazepine Use Among Older Adults, But Risks Remain

Older adults are increasingly discontinuing benzodiazepines soon after hospital discharge, but a significant number continue use for months, putting them at risk for serious health problems, according to new research published in the Journal of the American Geriatrics Society.

A class of medications commonly prescribed for short-term relief of anxiety, sleep problems, or agitation, benzodiazepines can be effective in the hospital setting. But prolonged use has been linked to increased risk of falls, memory and thinking problems, dependence, and motor vehicle accidents — all of which can threaten older adults’ health and independence.

The study, “Pattern and Associated Factors of Benzodiazepine Discontinuation Among Older Adults Following Hospitalization,” examined in-hospitalization prescription patterns for more than 33,000 patients aged 65 and older who were prescribed benzodiazepines from January 2004 through February 2025. Between 15.9% and 31.5% of patients were prescribed benzodiazepines like lorazepam or clonazepam during that period.

Experts, including the American Society of Addiction Medicine, recently issued updated guidelines regarding tapering patients off of benzodiazepines after hospitalization in order to prevent dependence and serious adverse outcomes in older adults.

According to the researchers, approximately 15% of older adults continued using benzodiazepines for two months after hospitalization. Patients at higher risk include those with insomnia, older adults with frailty, and patients starting new antidepressants or antipsychotics.

“While it’s encouraging to see more patients stopping these medications quickly, we remain concerned about the older adults who continue to use long-acting benzodiazepines because they face higher risks of falls, memory problems, and dependence,” said Kevin T. Pritchard, OT, PhD, OTR, co-author and post-doctoral research fellow at the Hinda and Arthur Marcus Institute for Aging Research at Hebrew SeniorLife.

“Our findings suggest that future deprescribing strategies should specifically target high-risk patients in order to address both the clinical challenges of discontinuation and the underlying conditions that may contribute to prolonged use. We also recommend medication reviews, patient education programs, benzodiazepine substitutions, and nonpharmacological therapies to prevent chronic use.”

In addition to Pritchard, researchers included Chun-Ting Yang, PhD, research fellow in medicine, Division of Pharmacoepidemiology and Pharmacoeconomics, Department of Medicine, Brigham and Women's Hospital; James M. Wilkins, MD, DPhil, assistant professor of psychiatry, Division of Geriatric Psychiatry, McLean Hospital, Harvard Medical School; Qiaoxi Chen, PhD, postdoctoral research fellow, Division of Pharmacoepidemiology and Pharmacoeconomics, Department of Medicine, Brigham and Women's Hospital; Yichi Zhang, MS, research specialist, Division of Pharmacoepidemiology and Pharmacoeconomics, Department of Medicine, Brigham and Women's Hospital; Dae Hyun Kim, MD, MPH, ScD, associate director & senior scientist, Hinda and Arthur Marcus Institute for Aging Research; Kueiyu Joshua Lin, MD, ScD, associate professor of medicine, Division of Pharmacoepidemiology and Pharmacoeconomics, Department of Medicine, Brigham and Women’s Hospital.

This study was funded by the National Institute on Aging (R01AG075335 and R01AG081412). Dr. Kim was supported by the grant K24AG073527 from the National Institute on Aging. The funders had no role in the design and conduct of the study.  

About Hebrew SeniorLife
Hebrew SeniorLife, an affiliate of Harvard Medical School, is a national senior services leader uniquely dedicated to rethinking, researching, and redefining the possibilities of aging. Hebrew SeniorLife cares for more than 4,500 seniors a day across campuses throughout Greater Boston. Locations include: Hebrew Rehabilitation Center-Boston and Hebrew Rehabilitation Center-NewBridge in Dedham; NewBridge on the Charles, Dedham; Orchard Cove, Canton; Simon C. Fireman Community, Randolph; Center Communities of Brookline, Brookline; Jack Satter House, Revere; and Leyland Community, Dorchester. Founded in 1903, Hebrew SeniorLife also conducts influential research into aging at the Hinda and Arthur Marcus Institute for Aging Research, which has a portfolio of more than $98 million, making it one of the largest gerontological research facilities in the U.S. in a clinical setting. It also trains more than 500 geriatric care providers each year. For more information about Hebrew SeniorLife, follow us on our blog, Facebook, Instagram, Threads, and LinkedIn.