BACKGROUND: @entity1245 and related drugs affect physical functioning negatively and increase fall and @entity174 risk. As impaired muscle strength and balance are risk factors for falls, we examined the effects of hypnotic withdrawal on handgrip strength and balance in older adult outpatients during and after long-term use of @entity6719 , @entity9038 and @entity2492 (here collectively referred to as "benzodiazepines"). METHODS: Eighty-nine chronic users (59 @entity1 , 30 @entity1 ) of @entity6719 , @entity9038 or @entity2492 aged >= 55 years participated in a @entity1245 withdrawal study. Individual physician-directed withdrawal was performed gradually over a one-month period and @entity1 were followed up to six months. Handgrip strength was assessed using a handheld dynamometer, and balance using the Short Berg's Balance Scale during the period of @entity1245 use (baseline), and at 1, 2, 3 weeks, and 1, 2 and 6 months after initiating withdrawal. Withdrawal outcome and persistence were determined by plasma @entity1245 -determinations at baseline and at four weeks ("short-term withdrawers", n = 69; "short-term non-withdrawers", n = 20), and by interviews at six months ("long-term withdrawers", n = 34; "long-term non-withdrawers", n = 55). Also most of the non-withdrawers markedly reduced their @entity1245 use. RESULTS: Within three weeks after initiating withdrawal, handgrip strength improved significantly (P    <=   0.005) compared to baseline values. Among @entity1 , long-term withdrawers improved their handgrip strength both when compared to their baseline values (P = 0.001) or to non-withdrawers (P =0.004). In @entity1 , improvement of handgrip strength from baseline was not significantly better in withdrawers than in non-withdrawers. However, @entity1 did improve their handgrip strength values compared to baseline (P = 0.002). Compared to balance test results at baseline, withdrawers improved starting from the first week after withdrawal initiation. There was, however, only a borderline difference (P = 0.054) in balance improvement between the long-term withdrawers and long-term non-withdrawers. Of note, the non-withdrawers tended to improve their handgrip strength and balance compared to baseline values, in parallel with their reduced @entity1245 use. CONCLUSIONS: Withdrawal from long-term use of @entity1245 can rapidly improve muscle strength and balance. Our results encourage discontinuing @entity1245 hypnotics, particularly in older @entity1 who are at a high risk of falling and sustaining @entity174 . TRIAL REGISTRATION: EU Clinical Trials Register: EudraCT2008000679530. Registered 31 October 2008.

Handgrip strength and balance in older adults following withdrawal from long-term use of @entity6719 , XXXX or @entity2492 as hypnotics.

@entity1 :: ('9606', 'Species') :: ['participants', 'women', 'men'] @entity174 :: ('MESH:D050723', 'Disease') :: ['fractures', 'fracture'] @entity1245 :: ('MESH:D001569', 'Chemical') :: ['Benzodiazepines', 'benzodiazepine', 'benzodiazepines'] @entity9038 :: ('MESH:C515050', 'Chemical') :: ['zopiclone'] @entity6719 :: ('MESH:D013693', 'Chemical') :: ['temazepam'] @entity2492 :: ('MESH:C049109', 'Chemical') :: ['zolpidem']
@entity9038 :: (MESH:C515050,Chemical) :: ['zopiclone']
