A cohort of program completers improved on pain-related measures while several medication classes, including benzodiazepines, were reduced.
The three-week interdisciplinary program included physician-supervised tapering and rehabilitation. The retrospective analysis involved 134 adults aged at least 65. Medication use fell after treatment, while self-reported and performance measures improved. Six-month follow-up responses came from only 42.5% of the cohort.
Without a control group, improvement cannot be assigned specifically to benzodiazepine reduction. Physical rehabilitation, psychological support, selection of completers, and changing symptoms may contribute. Follow-up attrition also limits confidence about sustained effects. The study shows that medication reduction and functional improvement can occur together in a structured setting, rather than proving that tapering alone produces the same result. It does not establish that abrupt discontinuation or unsupported reduction would be effective or safe.
Original analysis of the supplied journal article, identified as PMC7283568.