• About
  • Masthead
  • License Content
  • Advertise
  • Submit Press Release
  • RSS/Email List
  • Write for us
  • Contact us
2 Minute Medicine
No Result
View All Result

No products in the cart.

SUBSCRIBE
  • Specialties
    • Cardiology
    • Chronic Disease
    • Dermatology
    • Emergency
    • Endocrinology
    • Gastroenterology
    • Imaging and Intervention
    • Infectious Disease
    • Nephrology
    • Neurology
    • Obstetrics
    • Oncology
    • Ophthalmology
    • Pediatrics
    • Preclinical
    • Psychiatry
    • Public Health
    • Pulmonology
    • Rheumatology
    • Surgery
  • The Scan
  • Wellness
  • Classics™
    • 2MM+ Online Access
    • Paperback and Ebook
  • Rewinds
  • Visual
  • Partners
    • License Content
    • Submit Press Release
    • Advertise with Us
  • AccountLog-in/out
    • Subscribe
    • Sign-in
    • My account
2 Minute Medicine
  • Specialties
    • Cardiology
    • Chronic Disease
    • Dermatology
    • Emergency
    • Endocrinology
    • Gastroenterology
    • Imaging and Intervention
    • Infectious Disease
    • Nephrology
    • Neurology
    • Obstetrics
    • Oncology
    • Ophthalmology
    • Pediatrics
    • Preclinical
    • Psychiatry
    • Public Health
    • Pulmonology
    • Rheumatology
    • Surgery
  • The Scan
  • Wellness
  • Classics™
    • 2MM+ Online Access
    • Paperback and Ebook
  • Rewinds
  • Visual
  • Partners
    • License Content
    • Submit Press Release
    • Advertise with Us
  • AccountLog-in/out
    • Subscribe
    • Sign-in
    • My account
SUBSCRIBE
2 Minute Medicine
Subscribe
Home All Specialties Neurology

Prescription of Benzodiazepines, Z-Drugs, and Gabapentinoids and Mortality Risk in People Receiving Opioid Agonist Treatment

byJack LennonandArnav Agarwal, MD
December 10, 2019
in Neurology, Public Health
Reading Time: 2 mins read
0
Share on FacebookShare on Twitter

RELATED REPORTS

#VisualAbstract: Pharmacotherapy is effective for acute insomnia but with worse side effect profiles than placebo

Pharmacotherapy is effective for acute insomnia but with worse side effect profiles than placebo

#VisualAbstract: Only one quarter of benzodiazepine prescriptions in youth are for approved indication

1. Co-prescription of benzodiazepines and z-drugs with opioid agonists was associated with a significantly increased risk of drug-related poisoning in opioid-dependent individuals.

Evidence Rating Level: 2 (Good)

Opioid agonist treatment (OAT) is common and effective for individuals with opioid dependence. Concurrent medications, particularly sedatives, prescribed alongside OAT may increase risk of adverse events and mortality despite their benefits. The objective of this cohort study was to examine the association between prescription of concurrent sedatives and treatment retention, and whether concurrent sedative prescription was associated with overall benefit or harm in opioid-dependent individuals on OAT (buprenorphine or methadone). Using data from a United Kingdom database of 12,118 adult primary care patients prescribed OAT between 1998 and 2014, the use of benzodiazepines, z-drugs (zaleplon, zolpidem, and zopiclone), and gabapentinoids concurrently with opioid agonists buprenorphine or methadone and associations with all-cause mortality, drug-related poisoning (DRP), and non-DRP were examined. Over 36,126 person-years of follow-up, 657 deaths and 29,540 OAT episodes were reported, of which 42% were co-prescribed benzodiazepines, 20% co-prescribed z-drugs, and 8% co-prescribed gabapentinoids. Concurrent benzodiazepine use was associated with increased methadone treatment duration (466 [95% CI 450 to 483] vs. 286 [275 to 297] days). There was also a dose-dependent response in benzodiazepine normal dose (adjusted HR 2.51, 95% CI 1.57 to 4.01, p<0.001) and high dose (4.57, 95% CI 2.46 to 8.47, p<0.001). Co-prescription was associated with increased risk of DRP (adjusted HR 2.96 (95% CI 1.97 to 4.43)), though not with non-DRP. Z-drug co-prescription was also associated with increased risk of DRP, while gabapentinoid drugs showed a significant association with non-DRP. The findings of this study highlight the importance of clinical judgment in the treatment of opioid-dependent individuals, such that concurrent use of benzodiazepines, z-drugs, and gabapentinoids increase risk of mortality irrespective of treatment stage.

Click to read the study in PLOS Medicine

Image: PD

©2019 2 Minute Medicine, Inc. All rights reserved. No works may be reproduced without expressed written consent from 2 Minute Medicine, Inc. Inquire about licensing here. No article should be construed as medical advice and is not intended as such by the authors or by 2 Minute Medicine, Inc.

Tags: benzodiazepinegabapentinoidsopioid abusez-drugszolpidem
Previous Post

2 Minute Medicine Rewind December 9, 2019

Next Post

Trampoline-related fractures on the rise

RelatedReports

#VisualAbstract: Dapagliflozin associated with reduced risk of cardiovascular and kidney outcomes irrespective of background use of cardiovascular medications
StudyGraphics

#VisualAbstract: Pharmacotherapy is effective for acute insomnia but with worse side effect profiles than placebo

August 11, 2022
Sleep duration, sleepiness, chronotype have variable associations with teen self-regulation
Chronic Disease

Pharmacotherapy is effective for acute insomnia but with worse side effect profiles than placebo

July 26, 2022
#VisualAbstract: Only one quarter of benzodiazepine prescriptions in youth are for approved indication
StudyGraphics

#VisualAbstract: Only one quarter of benzodiazepine prescriptions in youth are for approved indication

June 11, 2022
Quick Take: The clinical effectiveness of sertraline in primary care and the role of depression severity and duration (PANDA): a pragmatic, double-blind, placebo-controlled randomized trial
Chronic Disease

Only one quarter of benzodiazepine prescriptions in youth are for approved indication

December 24, 2021
Next Post
Quick Take: Effect of intranasal ketamine vs. fentanyl on pain reduction for extremity injuries in children: the PRIME randomized clinical trial

Trampoline-related fractures on the rise

Rivaroxaban likely reduces risk of recurrent stroke in specific subgroup of patients with embolic stroke of undetermined source

Association of Anticoagulant Therapy With Risk of Fracture Among Patients With Atrial Fibrillation

Eczema more prevalent among older adults than previously thought

Treatment Effect of Omalizumab on Severe Pediatric Atopic Dermatitis: The ADAPT Randomized Clinical Trial

License Our Award-Winning Physician-Written Medical News and Visual Abstracts

2 Minute Medicine is the leading authoritative medical news licensing service, and the only with reports written by practicing doctors.

LICENSE CONTENT

2MM+ Premium Access

No ads & unlimited access to all current reports, over 9000 searchable archived reports, visual abstracts, Weekly Rewinds, and the online edition of The Classics Series™ textbook.

Subscription Options
2 Minute Medicine

2 Minute Medicine® is an award winning, physician-run, expert medical media company. Our content is curated, written and edited by practicing health professionals who have clinical and scientific expertise in their field of reporting. Our editorial management team is comprised of highly-trained MD physicians. Join numerous brands, companies, and hospitals who trust our licensed content.

Recent Reports

  • SAR-CoV-2 infection during pregnancy may lead to adverse neurodevelopmental outcomes in male offspring
  • Hyperfractionated radiotherapy reduces complication rates compared to standard fractionation for locally advanced nasopharyngeal carcinoma
  • Lebrikizumab effective in treating moderate-to-severe atopic dermatitis
License Content
Terms of Use | Disclaimer
Cookie Policy
Privacy Statement (EU)
Disclaimer

© 2021 2 Minute Medicine, Inc. - Physician-written medical news.

  • Specialties
    • Cardiology
    • Chronic Disease
    • Dermatology
    • Emergency
    • Endocrinology
    • Gastroenterology
    • Imaging and Intervention
    • Infectious Disease
    • Nephrology
    • Neurology
    • Obstetrics
    • Oncology
    • Ophthalmology
    • Pediatrics
    • Preclinical
    • Psychiatry
    • Public Health
    • Pulmonology
    • Rheumatology
    • Surgery
  • The Scan
  • Wellness
  • Classics™
    • 2MM+ Online Access
    • Paperback and Ebook
  • Rewinds
  • Visual
  • Partners
    • License Content
    • Submit Press Release
    • Advertise with Us
  • Account
    • Subscribe
    • Sign-in
    • My account

© 2021 2 Minute Medicine, Inc. - Physician-written medical news.

Want more physician-written
medical news?

Join over 10 million yearly readers and numerous companies. For healthcare professionals
and the public.

Subscribe for free today!

Subscription options