Co-prescription of opioids with benzodiazepine and other co-medications among opioid users: differential in opioid doses

Che Suraya Zin, Fadhilah Ismail Kulliyyah of Pharmacy, International Islamic University Malaysia, Bandar Indera Mahkota, Kuantan, Pahang, Malaysia Purpose: This study investigated the patterns of opioid co-prescription with benzodiazepine and other concomitant medications among opioid users. Opioid...

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Main Authors: Zin CS, Ismail F
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: Dove Medical Press 2017-01-01
Series:Journal of Pain Research
Subjects:
Online Access:https://www.dovepress.com/co-prescription-of-opioids-with-benzodiazepine-and-other-co-medication-peer-reviewed-article-JPR
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author Zin CS
Ismail F
author_facet Zin CS
Ismail F
author_sort Zin CS
collection DOAJ
description Che Suraya Zin, Fadhilah Ismail Kulliyyah of Pharmacy, International Islamic University Malaysia, Bandar Indera Mahkota, Kuantan, Pahang, Malaysia Purpose: This study investigated the patterns of opioid co-prescription with benzodiazepine and other concomitant medications among opioid users. Opioid dose in each type of co-prescription was also examined.Patients and methods: This cross-sectional study was conducted among opioid users receiving concomitant medications at an outpatient tertiary hospital setting in Malaysia. Opioid prescriptions (morphine, fentanyl, oxycodone, dihydrocodeine and tramadol) that were co-prescribed with other medications (opioid + benzodiazepines, opioid + antidepressants, opioid + anticonvulsants, opioid + antipsychotics and opioid + hypnotics) dispensed from January 2013 to December 2014 were identified. The number of patients, number of co-prescriptions and the individual mean opioid daily dose in each type of co-prescription were calculated.Results: A total of 276 patients receiving 1059 co-prescription opioids with benzodiazepine and other co-medications were identified during the study period. Of these, 12.3% of patients received co-prescriptions of opioid + benzodiazepine, 19.3% received opioid + anticonvulsant, 6.3% received opioid + antidepressant and 10.9% received other co-prescriptions, including antipsychotics and hypnotics. The individual mean opioid dose was <100 mg/d of morphine equivalents in all types of co-prescriptions, and the dose ranged from 31 to 66 mg/d in the co-prescriptions of opioid + benzodiazepine.Conclusion: Among the opioid users receiving concomitant medications, the co-prescriptions of opioid with benzodiazepine were prescribed to 12.3% of patients, and the individual opioid dose in this co-prescription was moderate. Other co-medications were also commonly used, and their opioid doses were within the recommended dose. Future studies are warranted to evaluate the adverse effect and clinical outcomes of the co-medications particularly in long-term opioid users with chronic non-cancer pain. Keywords: co-prescription, opioid, benzodiazepine, co-medication, opioid users, pain
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spelling doaj.art-dfdabf12752f49e781ef81a8211ef8452022-12-21T18:12:57ZengDove Medical PressJournal of Pain Research1178-70902017-01-01Volume 1024925731029Co-prescription of opioids with benzodiazepine and other co-medications among opioid users: differential in opioid dosesZin CSIsmail FChe Suraya Zin, Fadhilah Ismail Kulliyyah of Pharmacy, International Islamic University Malaysia, Bandar Indera Mahkota, Kuantan, Pahang, Malaysia Purpose: This study investigated the patterns of opioid co-prescription with benzodiazepine and other concomitant medications among opioid users. Opioid dose in each type of co-prescription was also examined.Patients and methods: This cross-sectional study was conducted among opioid users receiving concomitant medications at an outpatient tertiary hospital setting in Malaysia. Opioid prescriptions (morphine, fentanyl, oxycodone, dihydrocodeine and tramadol) that were co-prescribed with other medications (opioid + benzodiazepines, opioid + antidepressants, opioid + anticonvulsants, opioid + antipsychotics and opioid + hypnotics) dispensed from January 2013 to December 2014 were identified. The number of patients, number of co-prescriptions and the individual mean opioid daily dose in each type of co-prescription were calculated.Results: A total of 276 patients receiving 1059 co-prescription opioids with benzodiazepine and other co-medications were identified during the study period. Of these, 12.3% of patients received co-prescriptions of opioid + benzodiazepine, 19.3% received opioid + anticonvulsant, 6.3% received opioid + antidepressant and 10.9% received other co-prescriptions, including antipsychotics and hypnotics. The individual mean opioid dose was <100 mg/d of morphine equivalents in all types of co-prescriptions, and the dose ranged from 31 to 66 mg/d in the co-prescriptions of opioid + benzodiazepine.Conclusion: Among the opioid users receiving concomitant medications, the co-prescriptions of opioid with benzodiazepine were prescribed to 12.3% of patients, and the individual opioid dose in this co-prescription was moderate. Other co-medications were also commonly used, and their opioid doses were within the recommended dose. Future studies are warranted to evaluate the adverse effect and clinical outcomes of the co-medications particularly in long-term opioid users with chronic non-cancer pain. Keywords: co-prescription, opioid, benzodiazepine, co-medication, opioid users, painhttps://www.dovepress.com/co-prescription-of-opioids-with-benzodiazepine-and-other-co-medication-peer-reviewed-article-JPRco-prescriptionopioidbenzodiazepineco-medicationopioid userspain
spellingShingle Zin CS
Ismail F
Co-prescription of opioids with benzodiazepine and other co-medications among opioid users: differential in opioid doses
Journal of Pain Research
co-prescription
opioid
benzodiazepine
co-medication
opioid users
pain
title Co-prescription of opioids with benzodiazepine and other co-medications among opioid users: differential in opioid doses
title_full Co-prescription of opioids with benzodiazepine and other co-medications among opioid users: differential in opioid doses
title_fullStr Co-prescription of opioids with benzodiazepine and other co-medications among opioid users: differential in opioid doses
title_full_unstemmed Co-prescription of opioids with benzodiazepine and other co-medications among opioid users: differential in opioid doses
title_short Co-prescription of opioids with benzodiazepine and other co-medications among opioid users: differential in opioid doses
title_sort co prescription of opioids with benzodiazepine and other co medications among opioid users differential in opioid doses
topic co-prescription
opioid
benzodiazepine
co-medication
opioid users
pain
url https://www.dovepress.com/co-prescription-of-opioids-with-benzodiazepine-and-other-co-medication-peer-reviewed-article-JPR
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