Keith is one of an estimated 1.5million people in the UK addicted to benzodiazepines, a group of drugs prescribed by GPs for anxiety.
Many of today’s addicts are the elderly, a lost generation who were prescribed the drugs decades ago. Some continue to suffer debilitating-side effects as a result of taking the tablets, including feelings of paranoia, lethargy, fatigue, dizziness, and memory and balance problems. Many won’t realise the drugs are the problem.
A lot of chronic illness is actually iatrogenesis and people have no idea that the very “medicine” they’re being given to help them is actually making them worse…this is an utter tragedy as well as a disgrace to the medical system.
The UK does a much better job of informing the public about these drugs than does the US media. There has been many articles on the widespread problem of accidental addiction to this class of drug across the population, not just among seniors. Here is a collection of links on the serious problems with benzo use. Many of the articles are from the British press.
If you think you may have a problem with benzodiazepines do NOT discontinue use suddenly. It can be deadly. Withdrawal must be done slowly and carefully.