Two medications often prescribed together by the VA led to higher mortality risk, study finds
The study looked at VA data from 2007 to 2019 but included a caveat that changes to clinical guidelines for opioid prescriptions and benzodiazepine black box warnings have been implemented in more recent years.
Patty Nieberg
Posted Yesterday
BOSTON, MA - SEPTEMBER 11: April Mach, a pharmacist at Angell Animal Medical Center, empties a prescription bottle of opioid painkillers that she filled for a patient at the pharmacy inside the facility in Boston on Sep. 11, 2018. In a sign of the desperation behind the drug epidemic, many veterinarians believe that more pet owners are using their cats and dogs as a ploy to obtain opioids for themselves. The problem extends far beyond Angells busy hospitals in Jamaica Plain and Waltham. Last month, the Food and Drug Administration issued a warning to veterinarians about administering opioids, urging them to use pain-relief alternatives when possible and be vigilant for signs of misuse. (Photo by John Tlumacki/The Boston Globe via Getty Images)
A new study released Thursday found a higher mortality rate among veterans who were co-prescribed opioids and benzodiazepines by VA doctors between 2007 and 2019. Photo by John
Veterans who were co-prescribed an opioid and benzodiazepine by doctors at the Department of Veterans Affairs faced an increased mortality risk, a new report found.
Opioids are typically prescribed for pain. Benzodiazepines — like Valium, Xanax, and Klonopin — can be prescribed for anxiety, panic disorders, insomnia, and seizures.
https://taskandpurpose.com/news/study-opioid-benzodiazepine-prescription-risks/
