What is a common risk associated with long-term benzodiazepine use for sleep?

• A. Complete cure
• B. Progressive improvement
• C. Dependence and tolerance
• D. No risk

Answer: (C)

Long-term use of benzodiazepines for sleep commonly leads to tolerance and dependence. Tolerance means the brain adjusts to the drug so you need increasingly larger doses to achieve the same sleep-promoting effect, which can drive dose escalation. Dependence means the body becomes reliant on the drug to function normally, so stopping can trigger withdrawal symptoms and rebound insomnia, making it hard to discontinue. These drugs also carry other risks with extended use, such as daytime sedation, cognitive impairment, and a higher risk of falls, especially in older adults. Because of these evolving effects, they are not considered safe or effective as a long-term sleep solution, making dependence and tolerance the most relevant risk.