What's old is new again: opioid and benzodiazepine actions on ventilation, a reminder of the importance of knowing one's drugs.

Meissner, Konrad; Kharasch, Evan D · Br J Anaesth · 2025

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Abstract

Co-administering opioids and benzodiazepines can have deleterious effects on ventilation. However, little is known about the underlying mechanisms leading to hypoventilation. A recent article in the British Journal of Anaesthesia is not just another reminder of the hazards of combining opioids with benzodiazepines or other sedatives, but also applies mechanistic understanding to guide informed practice and future pharmaceutical development.

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