Slaapmiddelen en angstmedicijnen verhogen de kans op overlijden duidelijk*
Uit een twaalfjarige Canadese studie onder ruim 14.000 deelnemers van 18 tot 102 jaar blijkt dat regelmatig gebruik van slaapmiddelen en anxiolytica,
medicamenten die angst kunnen reduceren, de kans op overlijden aanzienlijk verhogen. Zij die minstens een keer per maand deze middelen gebruikten hadden 15,7% kans om dood te gaan in de onderzoeksperiode. Zij die deze middelen niet gebruikten hadden 10,5 % kans op overlijden. Gecorrigeerd op persoonlijke omstandigheden bleken gebruikers van die medicijnen 36% meer kans te hebben op overlijden.
Een mogelijke verklaring: Slaappillen en anxiolytica beïnvloeden de reactietijd, alertheid, en de coördinatie en zijn dus bevorderlijk voor valpartijen en andere ongelukken. Ze kunnen ook een remmende werking op de luchtwegen, die bepaalde ademhalingsproblemen kunnen verergeren tijdens de slaap. Deze medicijnen zijn ook remmers van het centrale zenuwstelsel en zeker geen onschuldige middelen
Consumption of medications for treatment of insomnia or anxiety increases mortality risk
Taking medications to treat insomnia and anxiety increases mortality risk by 36%, according to a study conducted by Genevi-ve Belleville, a professor at Universit- Laval's School of Psychology. The details of this study are published in the latest edition of the Canadian Journal of Psychiatry.
Dr. Belleville arrived at these results through analysis of 12 years of data on over 14,000 Canadians in Statistics Canada's National Population Health Survey. The data includes information on the social demographics, lifestyle, and health of Canadians age 18 to 102, surveyed every two years between 1994 and 2007.
During this period, respondents who reported having used medication to treat insomnia or anxiety at least once in the month preceding the survey had a mortality rate of 15.7%. Respondents who reported not having used such medications had a rate of 10.5%. After controlling for personal factors that might affect mortality risk, notably alcohol and tobacco consumption, physical health, physical activity level, and the presence or absence of depressive symptoms among participants, Dr. Belleville established that the consumption of sleeping pills or anxiety-relieving medications was associated with a 36% increase in the risk of death.
A number of hypotheses have been put forward to explain the link between use of these medications and increased mortality. Sleeping pills and anxiolytics affect reaction time, alertness, and coordination and are thus conducive to falls and other accidents. They may also have an inhibiting effect on the respiratory system, which could aggravate certain breathing problems during sleep. These medications are also central nervous system inhibitors that may affect judgment and thus increase the risk of suicide.
"These medications aren't candy, and taking them is far from harmless," commented Dr. Belleville. "Given that cognitive behavioral therapies have shown good results in treating insomnia and anxiety, doctors should systematically discuss such therapies with their patients as an option. Combining a pharmacological approach in the short term with psychological treatment is a promising strategy for reducing anxiety and promoting sleep."
Source: Universit- Laval (December 2010)
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