Benzodiazepines and Opioids, what you don’t know can kill you.
Every day, nearly 200 Americans die after overdosing on opioids. Combining opioids and benzodiazepines can increase risk of overdose because both types of drugs can cause sedation and suppress breathing—the cause of overdose fatality—in addition to impairing cognitive functions. Research shows that people who use opioids and benzodiazepines concurrently are at higher risk of visiting the emergency department, being admitted to a hospital for a drug-related emergency, and dying of drug overdose.
So what are Benzodiazepines and Opioids?
Opioids are primarily used for treating pain, and benzodiazepines for anxiety disorders, seizures, acute insomnia, and alcohol withdrawal. However, excessive and or inappropriate prescribing and dispensing of prescription opioids and benzodiazepines may cause a range of harms including fatal overdose.
Prescription opioids can be prescribed by doctors to treat moderate to severe pain, but can also have serious risks and side effects.
Common types are oxycodone (OxyContin, Percocet), hydrocodone (Vicodin, Lortab, Norco), morphine, and methadone.
Benzodiazepines are primarily used for treating anxiety, but they also are effective in treating several other conditions.
The most common benzodiazepines are the prescription drugs Valium®(Diazepam), Xanax® (Alprazolam), Halcion® (Triazolam), Ativan® (Lorazepam), and Klonopin® (Clonazepam). Tolerance can develop, although at variable rates and to different degrees.
Are there risks in long term use?
Direct risks of long-term opioid therapy are not limited to opioid addiction and overdose. Potential medical risks include serious fractures, breathing problems during sleep, hyperalgesia, immunosuppression, chronic constipation, bowel obstruction, and increased risk of myocardial infarction (heart attack).
While benzodiazepines are highly effective in the short term, adverse effects associated with long-term use, including impaired cognitive abilities, memory problems, mood swings, and overdoses when combined with other drugs.
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