The effects of concurrent prescription of benzodiazepines for people undergoing opioid maintenance treatment. Systematic review

Abstract

Key message Opioid maintenance treatment uses long acting opiates to reduce an opioid dependent person’s urge to take illicit opioid substances. Opioid dependent persons are likely to experience elevated levels of anxiety and sleep disturbance. Therefore, patients undergoing opioid maintenance treatment often use medications containing benzodiazepines, both prescribed by a doctor and from the illegal market, to alleviate these problems. Concurrent use of benzodiazepines during opioid maintenance treatment raise a concern.

This systematic review aimed to summarise the effects of concurrent prescription of benzodiazepines among people who receive opioid maintenance treatment.

After a systematic literature search we did not find any studies that could answer this question.

Experimental studies with controlled use of benzodiazepines are needed to elucidate the effects and consequences of taking benzodiazepines during opioid maintenance treatment.