The decision to take any type of psychotropic medication should not be taken lightly, as they come with a slew of dangerous and potentially lethal side effects.
Benzodiazepines (Ativan, Xanax, Valium)
These drugs exert a calming effect by boosting the action of a neurotransmitter called gamma-aminobutyric acid (GABA) in the same way as opioids (heroin) and some cannabinoids (cannabis) do. This in turn activates the gratification hormone, dopamine, in your brain. Since the identical brain "reward pathways" are used by both types of drugs, they can be equally addictive.
Older adults have a much more difficult time eliminating benzodiazepines and similar drugs from their bloodstreams. Over time, these drugs can accumulate in your body, which will increase your risk of an accidental overdose (and perhaps further impair your driving ability). Common side effects of this class of drugs, regardless of age, include:
Unsteady gait, and falling
Dizziness
Hip fractures
Drug induced or drug-worsened impairment of thinking, memory loss
Cancer and premature death
Antidepressants
Antidepressant use has been linked to thicker arteries, which increases your risk of heart disease and stroke. Aside from potentially lethal cardiac events, other serious side effects include:
Suicidal thoughts and feelings and violent behavior: The primary side effect that you should be concerned about is that antidepressants can actually increase your risk of suicide.
Diabetes: Your risk for type 2 diabetes is two to three times higher if you take antidepressants.2 All types of antidepressants, including tricyclic and SSRIs, increase type 2 diabetes risk.
Problems with your immune system: Antidepressants cause serotonin to remain in your nerve junctions longer, interfering with immune cell signaling and T-cell growth.3
Stillbirth, birth defects, brittle bones and strokes have also been connected to antidepressant use.
Sleep drugs (insomnia drugs such as Sonata, Ambien, Imovane and Lunesta)
Research shows these drugs are linked to a nearly four-fold increase in the risk of premature death, along with increased cancer risks. Plus, they are notorious for being addictive, which means that once you want to stop taking them, you'll likely suffer withdrawal symptoms that could be far worse than the initial insomnia. Some, including Ambien, may also become less effective when taken for longer than two weeks.
Ambien may also make you want to eat while you're asleep – and the sleep eating can include bizarre foods such as buttered cigarettes, salt sandwiches and raw bacon. Other bizarre side effects reported from various sleeping pills include:
Sleep walking and even sleep driving
Hallucinations
Confusion and disorientation
Complete amnesia from events, even those that took place during the day
Depression
http://articles.mercola.com/sites/ar...accidents.aspx
Linear Mode
