Trying a safer first option before long-term anxiety sedatives
Long-term benzodiazepine use for anxiety should not happen without first trying a safer first-line treatment.
Across de-identified U.S. psychiatric records, we found this step was missed about 27% of the time it should have happened.
This page is here to help you know what to ask about. It is not medical advice, and you should never start, stop, or change a medication on your own. Bring these questions to a doctor who knows you.
Questions to ask your doctor
Copy a line and ask it at your next visit. These are questions to start a conversation, not instructions to change your treatment.
- I've been on a sedative for my anxiety for a while - have we tried a safer long-term option?
- Could a recommended first-choice treatment work better for me over time?
This page is information, not medical advice. It describes care patterns across many people and can't speak to your own situation. Bring these questions to a clinician who knows you.
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