Veterans who were simultaneously prescribed opioids and benzodiazepines by the Veterans Health Administration (VHA) faced an increased risk of death, according to a new report from the National Academies of Sciences, Engineering and Medicine that analyzed millions of VHA medical records from 2007 to 2019.
The report also finds some evidence that co-prescribing opioids and benzodiazepines increased veterans’ risk of death from suicide. Opioids are commonly prescribed for pain, and benzodiazepines are often prescribed for anxiety, panic disorders, insomnia and seizures. The combination of taking both drugs at the same time is known to have potential adverse health effects, including suppressing breathing.
“Our report adds an important point of confirmation to the ongoing conversation on how past opioid and benzodiazepine prescribing practices affected veterans seeking treatment for pain, as well as conditions like post-traumatic stress disorder, anxiety and depression,” said Rutgers Biomedical and Health Sciences Chancellor Brian Strom, chair of the committee that wrote the report. To read the full story.