Seven out of eight emergency department (ED) visits attributed to adverse events from benzodiazepines involve self-harm or nonmedical use of these drugs, and more than 80% involve concurrent use of alcohol, illicit drugs, or other substances, new research shows.

Although benzodiazepines are typically not problematic in terms of acute overdoses when used alone, patients often don’t take them as prescribed or use them with other substances in a self-harm attempt, author Daniel S. Budnitz, MD, MPH, director of the Medication Safety Program, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), told Medscape Medical News.

“Clinicians need to be aware of what other substances patients might be taking when they’re being prescribed a benzodiazepine,” Budnitz added.

The study was published online February 19 in the American Journal of Preventive Medicine.

Benzodiazepines Implicated in High Rate of ED Visits Across US – Medscape – Feb 25, 2020 – https://www.medscape.com/viewarticle/925686#vp_1