Action | Prescribing opioids for pain management |
Stage | Emergency/NOIRA |
Comment Period | Ended on 6/14/2017 |
While I support this overall initiative, I would respectfully request reconsideration of the requirement to prescribe naloxone whenever there is concomitant use of a benzodiazepine. I see many patients in our clinics at VCU who may take daily or PRN doses of benzodiazepines, and if I believe a narcotic analgesic is indicated, I routinely consider dose reduction, and I counsel the patient regarding additive effects of the medications. However, to require a naloxone prescription for this entire group of patients is not, in my opinion, indicated.