The DAWN Report: Benzodiazepines in Combination with Opioid Pain Relievers or Alcohol: Greater Risk of More Serious ED Visit Outcomes
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چکیده
Benzodiazepines, such as alprazolam (Xanax®), diazepam (Valium®), clonazepam (Klonopin®), and lorazepam (Ativan®), depress central nervous system (CNS) activity and are used to relieve symptoms of anxiety, panic attacks, and seizures.1,2 They have been deemed safe and effective when taken as prescribed and directed. However, when combined with other drugs that depress CNS activity, such as alcohol or opioid pain relievers like oxycodone (OxyContin®), hydrocodone (Vicodin®), hydromorphone (Dilaudid®), or morphine, benzodiazepines may present serious or even life-threatening problems. Concerns exist about the increasing number of patients prescribed both benzodiazepines and opioids and about serious complications arising from the use of benzodiazepines with alcohol.3,4 This report quantifies the increased risk of more serious outcomes such as hospitalization or, rarely, death in the emergency department (ED), when benzodiazepines are combined with alcohol or opioid pain relievers.
منابع مشابه
Alcohol Involvement in Opioid Pain Reliever and Benzodiazepine Drug Abuse–Related Emergency Department Visits and Drug-Related Deaths — United States, 2010
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