@article{ref1,
title="Z-drugs and falls: a focused review of the literature",
journal="Senior care pharmacist, The",
year="2020",
author="Ryba, Nicole and Rainess, Rebecca",
volume="35",
number="12",
pages="549-554",
abstract="OBJECTIVE: To provide a focused review of the literature related to the association  between exposure to Z-drugs and the risk of falls, especially in the older  population.<br/><br/> DATA SOURCES: A literature search was conducted using Medline,  PsychInfo, and the Cochrane Library database for all clinical trials, case series,  and case reports published in English up to May 2020. The search terms used  consisted of each Z-drug, including &quot;zolpidem,&quot; &quot;zopiclone,&quot; &quot;eszopiclone,&quot; and  &quot;zaleplon,&quot; matched with &quot;falls.&quot;<br/><br/> STUDY SELECTION: The search yielded 295  studies. After review of abstracts, content and references were reviewed, and  duplicates removed, a total of 9 articles met inclusion of exposure to at least 1  Z-drug and a primary outcome of falls.<br/> DATA EXTRACTION: The American Geriatrics  Society 2019 Beers Criteria Update for Potentially Inappropriate Medication Use in  Older Adults recommends to avoid using nonbenzodiazepine hypnotics in this patient  population because of the risk of adverse events.<br/><br/> DATA SYNTHESIS: A majority of  the literature suggests an increased risk of falls with exposure to Z-drug use,  especially zolpidem. Eight trials examined falls as a primary outcome in non-elderly  (n=3) and elderly (n=5) patients in different settings, mostly in an inpatient  setting (nursing facility or acute care hospital).<br/><br/> CONCLUSION: Exposure to  Z-drugs, especially zolpidem, should be evaluated and counseled on continuously as  these medications put patients at an increased risk for falls and other  complications.<p /> <p>Language: en</p>",
language="en",
issn="2639-9636",
doi="10.4140/TCP.n.2020.549.",
url="http://dx.doi.org/10.4140/TCP.n.2020.549."
}