A Question About the Safety of Buprenorphine/Naloxone and Benzodiazepine Drugs

• Published in: Journal of psychosocial nursing and mental health services Vol. 53; no. 12; pp. 11 - 14
• Main Author: Howland, Robert H
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: United States SLACK INCORPORATED 01.12.2015
• Subjects: Benzodiazepines - administration & dosage; Benzodiazepines - adverse effects; Buprenorphine, Naloxone Drug Combination - administration & dosage; Buprenorphine, Naloxone Drug Combination - adverse effects; Drug Interactions; Drug Overdose - mortality; Drug therapy; Humans; Nursing; Opioid-Related Disorders; Patient safety; Product safety; United States - epidemiology; United States; United States > US
• ISSN: 0279-3695; 1938-2413
• DOI: 10.3928/02793695-20151117-01

Drug overdose is the leading cause of injury death in the United States, and most deaths are related to prescription drugs. A substantial proportion of these deaths involve opioid or benzodiazepine drugs, and many overdoses include a combination of both drug classes. Buprenorphine/naloxone has an unusual pharmacology that distinguishes it from other opioid drugs. Animal and human studies have found that buprenorphine is associated with a ceiling to its cardio-respiratory depressant effect at higher doses, such that it may have a wider safety margin compared to other opioid drugs. Compared to buprenorphine alone, buprenorphine/naloxone is associated with less cardiorespiratory depression. Drug safety data from the National Poison Data System, Drug Abuse Warning Network, and other sources suggest that the safety of buprenorphine/naloxone is favorable compared to the morbidity and mortality associated with other opioid drugs and other classes of psychotropic drugs. [Drug overdose is the leading cause of injury death in the United States, and most deaths are related to prescription drugs. A substantial proportion of these deaths involve opioid or benzodiazepine drugs, and many overdoses include a combination of both drug classes. Buprenorphine/naloxone has an unusual pharmacology that distinguishes it from other opioid drugs. Animal and human studies have found that buprenorphine is associated with a ceiling to its cardio-respiratory depressant effect at higher doses, such that it may have a wider safety margin compared to other opioid drugs. Compared to buprenorphine alone, buprenorphine/naloxone is associated with less cardiorespiratory depression. Drug safety data from the National Poison Data System, Drug Abuse Warning Network, and other sources suggest that the safety of buprenorphine/naloxone is favorable compared to the morbidity and mortality associated with other opioid drugs and other classes of psychotropic drugs. [ Journal of Psychosocial Nursing and Mental Health Services, 53 (12), 11–14.]