Benzodiazepines – Older Adults and Care Partners
Clinical Guidelines
Discover the guidelines on benzodiazepine use in older adults.
For Healthcare Professionals
Find clinical tools and resources to support your patient or client.
Benzodiazepines can help reduce anxiety and sleep problems for a few days or weeks, but they can have dangerous effects on your health and well-being. If prescribed, they should not be taken for longer than 4 weeks in a row. It is important to seek help from a health care provider to stop this medication, as it has severe withdrawal symptoms.
Key Facts
Discover Our Resources
Not sure where to begin?
Download our brochure to find information about the impacts of benzodiazepine use, including tips for discussing the topic with your health care provider.
Are you a care partner?
Caregiving can be rewarding. Yet, most caregivers experience conflicting feelings of isolation, grief, compassion, joy and overwhelm as they provide care.
Watch the National ECHO webinar on older adults and substance use
Older Adults and Substance Use Disorder (2023)
Presented by Dr. Jonathan Bertram, MD, CCFP. Dr. Bertram is an addiction medicine physician at the Centre for Addiction and Mental Health with a special interest in First Nations and older adults in the context of pain and addiction treatment.