Stay Alert for Opioid Drug Interactions

Roughly 30% of patients taking an opioid chronically are on interacting meds...and dangerous combos often go unrecognized.

For example, combining an opioid (oxycodone, etc) with a med such as gabapentin can increase fall risk...especially in older patients.

And the risk of difficulty breathing that can lead to death (respiratory depression) goes up when an opioid is used with a CNS depressant, such as a benzodiazepine (alprazolam, etc)...sleep med (zolpidem, etc)...or muscle relaxant (cyclobenzaprine, etc).