do benzodiazepines cause alzheimer's
According to a new study, regular use of benzodiazepines -- which include medications such as Valium (diazepam), Ativan (lorazepam), Xanax (alprazolam) and Klonopin (clonazepam) -- is associated with as much as a 51 percent increased risk for Alzheimer's among people who use the drugs for three months or more.
Side effects. One of the Alzheimer's medications, tacrine (Cognex), poses a risk of liver damage, so it is now prescribed only rarely. The four other drugs can cause several side effects. Most are minor, such as nausea, vomiting, dizziness, loss of appetite, muscle cramps, tremor, and weight loss.