Practical Considerations for Prescribing Benzodiazepines and Opioids

摘要

The Food and Drug Administration is responsible for evaluatingand approving the medications we prescribe. The FDAreviews post-market experience and monitors adverse drugreactions or unexpected effects. One of the strictest warningsthe FDA can apply to a medication is a Boxed warningor Black Box warning. “Drugs that have special problems,particularly ones that may lead to death or serious injury,may have this warning information displayed within a boxin the prescribing information. This is often referred to asa “boxed” or “black box” warning. Drugs that have suchboxed warnings are not permitted to have reminder ads.”1In August of 2016, the FDA issued a Black Box warningregarding co-prescribing of benzodiazepines2 and opioids: