July 16, 2021

What you need to know about the updated benzodiazepine boxed warning

"The FDA recommended an updated boxed warning and standardization of product labels across the drug class. They recommended judicious prescribing and a gradual taper to mitigate withdrawal reactions. While I am optimistic about these changes, the...

"The FDA recommended an updated boxed warning and standardization of product labels across the drug class. They recommended judicious prescribing and a gradual taper to mitigate withdrawal reactions. While I am optimistic about these changes, the updated warning doesn’t tell the whole story. After reviewing the newly updated Xanax Medication Guide, I have some concerns."

Christy Huff is a cardiologist and co-director, Benzodiazepine Information Coalition. She can be reached on Twitter @christyhuffMD.

She shares her story and discusses her KevinMD article, "The updated benzodiazepine boxed warning: What you need to know." (https://www.kevinmd.com/blog/2021/03/the-updated-benzodiazepine-boxed-warning-what-you-need-to-know.html)

This episode is sponsored by the Substance Use Disorder Treatment and Recovery Loan Repayment Program. Would you like to help communities recover from the opioid epidemic? If you said yes, and you are a behavioral health professional or paraprofessional, then I have great news for you. Receive up to $250,000 in student loan repayment in exchange for service in a community disproportionately affected by the opioid crisis. Learn more and apply to join STAR LRP, the Substance Use Disorder Treatment and Recovery Loan Repayment Program (https://bhw.hrsa.gov/funding/apply-loan-repayment/star-lrp). Applications close on July 22.