09-25-2017, 06:28 PM
I found this a few days ago...very interesting to me to see this since the FDA's previous "black box" warning about the dangers of prescribing opiates with benzos caused me much suffering under the care of a heartless and arrogant doctor. Seems they are loosening up and ever so slightly back tracking, at least for those on methadone or suboxone:
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[url=https://www.fda.gov/NewsEvents/Newsroom/PressAnnouncements/ucm576752.htm]https://www.fda.gov/NewsEvents/Newsroom/PressAnnouncements/ucm576752.htm
Main paragraph from above:
"As noted in the Drug Safety Communication, the co-administration of the MAT drugs methadone or buprenorphine with benzodiazepines or other central nervous system (CNS) depressants can pose serious risks, including difficulty breathing, coma, and death. The FDA’s new alert follows the agency’s warning last year of the risks of using opioid analgesics (to treat pain) or prescription opioid cough products and benzodiazepines at the same time. At that time, more consideration was needed regarding the combined use of these MAT drugs and benzodiazepines or other CNS depressants due to the unique medical needs and benefit-risk considerations for this specific patient population. As a result of that consideration, the FDA’s new advisory that we’re issuing today asks health care providers and patients to be aware of these risks. But at the same time, the agency is also reinforcing that MAT should not necessarily be denied to patients taking these other medications. The dangers associated with failing to treat an opioid use disorder can outweigh the risks of co-prescribing MAT and benzodiazepines. Instead, careful management of the patient and coordination of care is recommended."
[/url]
[url=https://www.fda.gov/NewsEvents/Newsroom/PressAnnouncements/ucm576752.htm]https://www.fda.gov/NewsEvents/Newsroom/PressAnnouncements/ucm576752.htm
Main paragraph from above:
"As noted in the Drug Safety Communication, the co-administration of the MAT drugs methadone or buprenorphine with benzodiazepines or other central nervous system (CNS) depressants can pose serious risks, including difficulty breathing, coma, and death. The FDA’s new alert follows the agency’s warning last year of the risks of using opioid analgesics (to treat pain) or prescription opioid cough products and benzodiazepines at the same time. At that time, more consideration was needed regarding the combined use of these MAT drugs and benzodiazepines or other CNS depressants due to the unique medical needs and benefit-risk considerations for this specific patient population. As a result of that consideration, the FDA’s new advisory that we’re issuing today asks health care providers and patients to be aware of these risks. But at the same time, the agency is also reinforcing that MAT should not necessarily be denied to patients taking these other medications. The dangers associated with failing to treat an opioid use disorder can outweigh the risks of co-prescribing MAT and benzodiazepines. Instead, careful management of the patient and coordination of care is recommended."
