UF Study Finds Some Combinations of Opioids and Muscle Relaxants Are Safe, Others Raise Overdose Risk

Researchers at the University of Florida College of Pharmacy have identified certain combinations of muscle relaxants and opioid prescriptions that are safe, while others increase the risk of opioid overdoses and should be avoided.

The findings are published in July’s issue of Clinical Pharmacology & Therapeutics, the flagship journal of the American Society of Clinical Pharmacology & Therapeutics.

“In clinical practice, most patients only use opioids and muscle relaxants for short-term pain relief, and our study provides assurance on the safety of this practice,” said Almut Winterstein, Ph.D., R.Ph., a professor and the Dr. Robert and Barbara Crisafi Chair for Pharmaceutical Outcomes and Policy in the UF College of Pharmacy, part of UF Health, and director of the Center for Drug Evaluation and Safety. “This is an important message as clinicians are looking for options to provide adequate pain management while reducing opioid use.”

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