This list is designed to help primary health care & clinical care providers assess and discuss with persons aged 65 or older, the potential risks and benefits of taking benzodiazepines. They also contain information on how to support primary care providers in safely discontinuing, starting or continuing benzodiazepines.

Prevention

Use and Misuse of Benzodiazepines in the Elderly
Overview and toolkit on the appropriate use of benzodiazepines and Z-drugs
Alberta Medical Association
College of Physicians & Surgeons of Alberta

Assessment

Sleep Tips for Older Adults
Conversation starters and tips on sleep and aging
HelpGuide

Is a Benzodiazepine or Z-Drug still needed for sleep?
Clinical tips for whether BZRAs are needed for sleep
Bruyère Research Institute
Deprescribing.org
The Ontario Pharmacy Evidence Network

Management

Benzodiazepine Use
Managing Benzodiazepine Use in Older Adults
Resources on benzodiazepines
Centre for Effective Practice

Sleepwell Recommends
This tool is designed to help consumers and care providers navigate sleep hygiene conversations with direct links to CBT resources specifically geared for sleep
Dalhousie University

Deprescribing benzodiazepine receptor agonists
An evidence-based guideline to help clinicians make decisions about when and how to safely taper and stop benzodiazepine receptor agonists
College of Family Physicians of Canada

Benzodiazepine & Z-Drug (BZRA) Deprescribing Algorithm
BZRA deprescribing algorithm for clinicians
Bruyère Research Institute
Deprescribing.org
The Ontario Pharmacy Evidence Network

Benzodiazepine Tapering
BZRA tapering approach
McMaster University

[updated May 11, 2020]