News Brief for November 2016

Black-Box Warnings to Be Added to Opioids and Benzodiazepines on Dangers of Combination Use

The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) will now require black-box warnings on the dangers of combining opioid pain medications with benzodiazepines.[1] Combinations of these drugs can cause extreme sleepiness, slowed or difficult breathing, coma, and death. The FDA released a safety announcement on this topic in late August, after Worst Pills, Best Pills News had already gone to press with an article on a petition calling for a black-box warning on these drugs’ labels (“Opioids and Benzodiazepines: A Deadly Combination,” September 2016 issue). Opioids — such as hydrocodone (HYSLINGA, NORCO, ZOHYDRO) and oxycodone (OXYCONTIN) — are widely prescribed for pain and cough, and benzodiazepines — such as diazepam (VALIUM) and alprazolam (XANAX) — are often used for anxiety and sleep problems. Public Citizen’s Health Research Group lists most opioids as Limited Use, noting that they are overprescribed and can be addictive. We list most benzodiazepines as Do Not Use, with the exception of alprazolam, which is Do Not Use except for panic disorder.

References

[1] Food and Drug Administration. FDA drug safety communication: FDA warns about serious risks and death when combining opioid pain or cough medicines with benzodiazepines; requires its strongest warning. August 31, 2016. http://www.fda.gov/Drugs/DrugSafety/ucm518473.htm. Accessed September 30, 2016.