Neurology
>
General Neurology
— Drugs are commonly prescribed to treat insomnia, anxiety in PSP
by
Judy George, Deputy Managing Editor, MedPage Today
January 23, 2024
A recent study has found that benzodiazepine derivatives, including lorazepam, clonazepam, alprazolam, and diazepam, are linked to faster disease progression in individuals with progressive supranuclear palsy (PSP). Researchers have discovered that patients using these medications resulted in a decline of PSP Rating Scale (PSPRS) scores at a quicker rate than those who did not take benzodiazepines. This analysis has been published in JAMA Neurology.
Principal investigator, Dr. Anne-Marie Wills, MD, MPH, suggests that these findings raise important questions about treatment approaches for PSP patients. While benzodiazepines are frequently prescribed for insomnia and anxiety, it seems that these medications may lead to a more rapid degeneration of the disease. Wills notes that the study did not investigate the reasons behind this decline, making it unclear whether benzodiazepines directly cause worsening symptoms of PSP.
Wills and her team studied data from a phase II/III clinical trial involving 305 PSP participants to reach these conclusions. Participants who took benzodiazepines experienced a significant increase in PSPRS scores compared to those who did not use these medications. Although benzodiazepine-related drugs such as zolpidem, zopiclone, and eszopiclone did not show the same association with PSP progression, the researchers believe their findings illustrate a need to further explore modifiable factors that influence this disease.
While the study had some limitations and further research is required to fully establish the relationship between benzodiazepines and PSP progression, these results provide valuable insights for clinicians and patients. Understanding these risks can help individuals make more informed decisions about the management of their disease, Wills highlighted.