You and your sleeping pills

Sleeping pills are big sellers at the drugstore. Some of us know just how priceless a good night sleep can be. Yet, we tend to forget that sleeping pills are for short term use, and are inclined to addiction, when taken for prolonged periods of time.
For most people, sleeping problems are usually transient and do not last when the underlying problem is resolved. For Seniors, however, sleeping difficulties seem to be of a chronic nature. More and more of them find themselves unable to sleep without the use of sleeping tablets, whether it is Zopiclone, Lorazepam or other members of that class.
Therein lies the problem. These medications do indeed induce sleep everynight, but come with an arsenal of unwanted effects that the patient often attributes to other causes. Long term use of Benzodiazepines, such as Triazolam, Lorazepam etc. cause depression and a usual daytime "doppy" feeling that goes unresolved. Seniors are often put on antidepressants to adjust their mood when the underlying reason is a side effect of the sleeping pill that has been taken for two long.
While seniors (or anyone else, for that matter) should not abruptly stop their sleeping pills because of withdrawal effects, they should question the possibly overextended period of time they have been using these medications, and explore other options to improve their sleep. There is no point of having a good night sleep, if the consequences lead to spending your days in a depressed mood.
People should know that a sleeping pill is a momentary crutch available to help an individual get through a few difficult nights, during a brief period. Neither doctors nor pharmacists can solve with a pill, a deep sleeping problem, in which the ultimate solution rests with the individual. Sleeping issues, especially with Seniors, take years to develop. Their attempt to be resolved must be addressed with patience, openmindness, and changes of lifestyles.

Why am I the last to know when my medication is being recalled?

It is always disconcerting for a patient to learn from the media that the medicine he/she has been taking for sometime has been withdrawn from the market for safety reasons. Health alerts from drug regulating agencies are not directly accessible to patients, as most of these safety news releases do not lead to drug withdrawals.
There is, however, particular warnings that should be brought to the patient's immediate attention, since he/she is the most concerned. Patients are not usually happy with doctors and pharmacists when their drugs are suddenly withdrawn for safety reasons, after leaving the pharmacy the day before with that same prescription. The situation is a tense moment between the prescriber, the pharmacist, and the unfortunate patient.
There is a new group that has a fresh proposition to address this problem: Iguard. Iguard is the brainchild of a physician, Hugo Stephenson. The web site "iguard.org" monitors health safety releases from government drug agencies and drug companies sending alerts to patients by email. The patient goes to the site and registers the medicines that he or she is currently taking, along with his/her medical condition. Users can access on a very simple color coded system the safety level of his/her drug at any particular time. The color green is the most comfortable safety level : "suitable for widespread use", with the color red being the most concerned level: "requires careful consideration of risk versus benefit".
There is an option that allows the patient's doctor to be alerted as well. The physician does not have to face angry patients taking potentially withdrawable drugs such, as with the orange level 4, that advises patients to " create a risk reduction plan with their doctors". This system allows the patient to be more proactive about the safety level of his meds, and be able to address beforehand those concerns with both physician and pharmacist.
A patient should always remember that drugs are not perfect weapons against their diseases. The more they stay informed regarding their therapies the more they will be able to reach the best decisions with their doctors concerning their drugs.