Steep Climb In Benzodiazepine Prescribing By Primary Care Doctors

Details a new study which found that the percentage of outpatient medical visits that led to a benzodiazepine prescription doubled from 2003 to 2015. This class of drugs is typically prescribed for anxiety, insomnia, and seizures, but the largest rise during this time was for chronic pain. Some are concerned that benzodiazepines are being used as a replacement for opioids, despite being dangerous and addictive themselves, while others argue that primary care providers may be using them to ease patients off of opioids.
Source: News stories via the Rural Assistance Center - Category: Rural Health Source Type: news