Xanax, Valium, and Other Benzodiazepines Prescribed for Sleep Disorders May Raise Overdose Risk in Younger People
Teens and young adults who are treated for sleep issues with benzodiazepines, a class of medication sometimes prescribed to treat anxiety and insomnia, may be at a higher risk of overdose, according to a new study, published November 22 in JAMA Network Open.Benzodiazepines, or "benzos," are a class of medication commonly prescribed to treat conditions such as anxiety and insomnia, and includes drugs such as Xanax, Ativan, Valium and Klonopin.“The risk of drug overdose with benzodiazepine treatment is an important safety consideration when treating adolescents and young adults,” said a coauthor of the study, Greta Bushnell, PhD, a researcher and faculty member at Rutgers School of Public Health in New Brunswick, New Jersey, in a press release. “We hope these results can inform prescribing decisions and encourage close monitoring in this young…