Anti-anxiety drugs and sleeping pills have been linked to an increased risk of death, according to new research from the University of Warwick. The large study shows that several anxiolytic (anti-anxiety) drugs or hypnotic drugs (sleeping pills) are associated with a doubling in the risk of mortality. Although these findings are based on routine data and need to be interpreted cautiously, the researchers recommended that a greater understanding of their impact is essential.
Sources
- Anti-anxiety drugs and sleeping pills linked to risk of death
Warwick University press release, March 31, 2014 - Effect of anxiolytic and hypnotic drug prescriptions on mortality hazards: retrospective cohort study
BMJ 2014;348:g1996, 19 March 2014