Do Benzos + Opioids = Bozos?

Benzodiazepines (often referred to as “benzos”) are sedatives and are in a class of drugs that treat anxiety, insomnia, and seizure.

These medications have the potential to become quite addicting and can lead to tolerance and dependence when taken over time. When excessive amounts of benzos are taken and/or combined with alcohol or other medications the results can be fatal.

As most of you are aware the United States has been focusing, in recent years, on a major public health crisis known as the opioid epidemic. Opioids can block pain, but over time patients develop tolerance and require higher doses to give the same level of relief. This was done in the past without giving much thought to the increased respiratory depression that these higher doses were causing. As a result, decreased dosing has been encouraged by multiple government entities for public safety.

Alone, opioids carry the risk of respiratory depression. Now, if you combine this with a benzodiazepine, which also carries the risk of respiratory depression your risk is significantly increased. One study found that the death rate among people taking both benzos and opioids was ten times higher than that of people only taking opioids.

Certainly, there are alternatives to treating anxiety, insomnia, and seizure other than with benzodiazepines. If you are taking opioids for pain, please discuss other options for treating anxiety, insomnia, and depression with your PCP, neurologist, psychiatrist and/or pain specialist. Taking both does not necessarily make you a bozo, but it absolutely can make you dead. For this reason, it is the policy of Advanced Spine and Pain not to write opioids to anyone who is taking benzodiazepines. We would much rather deal with your frustration with us for not prescribing both than to put your health at serious risk.