Sedatives frequently prescribed to Alzheimer's patients may increase those patients' risk of contracting pneumonia, according to a new study published in the Canadian Medical Association Journal.
Both benzodiazepines and non-benzodiazepines (commonly known as Z-drugs) have sedative effects and are regularly prescribed to Alzheimer's patients. To assess a potential link between the drugs and the development of pneumonia, researchers examined information on 49,484 adults diagnosed with Alzheimer's between 2005 and 2011 in Finland compiled in national databases. Among the patients, 5,232 were taking benzodiazepines and 3,269 were taking Z-drugs.
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While researchers identified no statistically significant relationship between Z-drugs and pneumonia, benzodiazepines were associated with a 30 percent increased risk of contracting pneumonia when compared to Alzheimer's patients not taking the drug.
"Benefits and risks of the use of benzodiazepines should be carefully considered for patients with
Alzheimer disease and include risk of pneumonia," concluded the study's authors. "Accumulating evidence that use of benzodiazepines and Z-drugs is associated with respiratory adverse effects suggests that future studies examine the possible pharmacologic mechanisms."
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