Benzodiazepines Raise Risk of Crash Among Elderly Drivers

Benzodiazepines Raise Risk of Crash Among Elderly Drivers

Benzodiazepines and antidepressants raise the risk of a serious vehicular accident among elderly drivers by up to five times, a new study shows. That level of risk is equal to the risk of driving with a blood alcohol level at the legal limit.

Another class of psychoactive medications, opioid analgesics, were associated with a moderate risk of road mishaps among seniors behind the wheel.

Benzodiazepines and other psychoactive medications are often prescribed among the elderly. However, these drugs are known to have side effects such as drowsiness, reduced alertness and decreased coordination, factors that can be disastrous on the road.

This new study is consistent with those smaller studies done in other countries which show that the use of benzodiazepines and other drugs like antidepressants and opioids are strongly linked to car crashes.

However, the study authors pointed out that driving reflexes can be impaired also by whatever condition the elderly drivers have such as cognitive impairment. Psychoactive drugs may just be further  impairing the mental condition of senior drivers.

Australian researchers employed a whole population framework using the Western Australian Data Linkage System to come up with their conclusion. The approach overcomes the limitations of past studies that involved only younger and healthier drivers that comprised a sample size.

In light of this new data, the study authors propose that a crash risk analysis for elderly patients who drive should be prepared by clinicians and pharmacists.

The study was funded by the Department of Health - Western Australia. It was published today by the Journal of the American Geriatrics Society which feature similar reports of the link between benzodiazepines and mental impairment among seniors.

Posted by enriquez on Tuesday October 04 2011, 2:28 AM EST. Ref: JAGS. All trademarks acknowledged. Filed under Featured News, Health, Original. Comments and Trackbacks closed. Follow responses: RSS 2.0