As of December 19, 2016 is there a federal law that my doctor cannot prescribe hydrocodone and benzodiazepines together?
Is there a federal law that you cannot take hydrocodone and benzodiazepine together?
Question posted by Somebodyhelpme on 20 Dec 2016
Last updated on 7 November 2022
18 Answers
Sunluver
15 June 2020
I hope you get both . My husband is in chronic back pain because he broke his back twice !! He wanted Xanax and I didn’t want him to get it. He has a pain pump in his body so no more taking pain meds by mouth . I didn’t want to see him super relaxed because the pain pump medicine is knocking his lights out all different times !!! It makes me mad to see him nodding off while watching tv or just sitting down anywhere !! I do mean ANYWHERE !!
I really don’t think he should be driving still . In my own opinion he really shouldn’t drive . He told his pain doctor about me seeing him nod off . But the pain doctor hates me now and took my husband’s side . He told my husband some bad things about me . My husband won’t say what it was ..
am I right for not wanting my husband to drive any more ?
Sunluver
15 June 2020
Is Xanax a little bit too much ?can it make you sleepy too ?
kevinb1953
15 April 2021
Hello.
YES, Xanax can and will make one sleepy if too high of a dose.
amejidartie123
8 Nov 2022
However starting at a low dose will not make you tired At least not me
chidoaqui
7 Nov 2019
At one point, while having private insurance, had not problem what so ever. Now that I have to rely on government assisted insurance, it appears that you can only "choose" to have or treat one illness. It is sad. We are in the "alleged" best country on earth and yet, we can't get adequate health care. My last doctor, this morning, "did not feel comfortable" prescribing benzos.
The one not feeling comfortable will be me in a few hours, go to ER and tax dollars will go to waste.
#benzobrains
Nwflapen72
10 Aug 2019
In Florida on July 1st 2018 new law passed by Rick Scott Governor, Drs are to check patients on narcotics and Xanax and ambien10mg no can’t take all these. My pain Dr cut off my Percocet. The Xanax and ambien my psychiatrist gives me. No pain medication anymore. I read in 2020 a new pain medication will be available.
amejidartie123
8 Nov 2022
I will betcha he gets his pain meds!!!
kevinb1953
18 Jan 2019
Hey.
My primary doctor told me last year March that this was in the pipeline. I had back then been on Percocet 5 for only two months and he told me that I had to choose between the two... Xanax or Percocet... I took the Xanax. I have DDD & DJD and am in constant pain after just a few hours of very easy work but I've been on Xanax for over 17 years so thats the reason I chose Xanax.
One of the largest reasons (that nobody has mentioned yet) aside from the DEA and CDC for doctors not willing to prescribe both and is...
L I S T E N. IN MY HUMBLE OPINION:
Insurance companies and their higher than mighty MALPRACTICE threats. Vailed or not the health care providers have perceived this. Bottom line. Doctors are afraid.
I saw just yesterday that the chance of dying from opioid overdose is now HIGHER than dying from an automobile accident! Think about that. Insurance companies are most likely behind all of this. They are the ones getting hit in the pocketbook. They are the ones paying all the bills from accedents. Plus the "kids"
Best regards
Kevinb1953
Brendabushey
17 Jan 2019
Im beside myself as well. Ive been on clonazepam and hydrocodone for years, in fact, when i switched doctors, 4 months ago, i still have approx 30 benzos left from prior doctor because i told her i did not need 90 a month nor 60. I continued to get my refills, thank God i did because the "new rules" that my doctor said was illegal to fill both. I still have several left. I cannot get out of bed due to numerous conditions proven from MRI results, without pain medication. My doctor told me to cut myself to a quarter of 1mg clonazepam daily, he stated it probly wont help but titrate off as there unwilling to refill the benzos. OMGOSH, its a proven fact my blood pressure is on the rise when i dont take them and i have severe dizziness and terrible anxiety , i feel like im going to seize up without them. Ive offered ANY kind of bodily fluid and hair folicles to prove that i DO NOT abuse either one. This is an outrage.
I here there may be another doctor in town that LISTENS to his patience. He even states it on his web page. However im afraid they will label me as a seeker if i try to match a doctor with my needs. Its unfounded that they cannot prescibe both however they decline to fill if your on state insurance and they will not allow you to pay for it yourself if you have there insurance. Its a trap that can cause many to suffer emotionally as well as physically.
jcs500
11 Dec 2018
Some off my best friends have had to choose between Vals or Narcs. Started about 4 months ago in Michigan. I still get both from my Dr. So I am asumming this is all about insurance companies? If it is or gets to be a Fed Law millions of working Americans won't be able to function in society from panic, pain or both. One of my points is Will social security applications skyrocket? If so then the Feds has a new poster person. Put them on meds or SSD...
parksro
15 June 2018
Google and you can find the CDC recommendations that have sparked this. They are recommendations, not a law. Some prescribers are simply not willing to risk the government scrutiny and are adopting arbitrary policies that the two can't be prescribed together. That is their right to adopt such a policy, whether it is a law or not. The recommendation is that providers are to take due care when prescribing the two together. In other words, they should understand why both are needed and document accordingly. The recommendation does not suggest there could never by any medical need to have both medications at the same time, which of course there often is.
I confronted my pain clinic with these "recommendations" after they too tried to tell me it was a law. She then admitted it was not a law, but as a result of the commendations they were adopting this policy and there was nothing she could do. She also admitted that I (and the majority) were being punished by the actions of the few (abusers). Reprehensible to do this to people suffering. Not to mention that most abusers don't go through proper clinical channels to get these meds, so these actions do nothing to stop the abuse. If anything, it drives law abiding people to the black market in desperation. These actions are clearly driving up the rate of overdose as a result, not helping the issue. Keep speaking out. People in chronic pain need to have their voice heard, and treatment our our condition is not an "epidemic". No one who ever suffered, or had a loved one suffer, from chronic pain would refer to their treatment as an epidemic. God bless. I hope all here get the relief they need and deserve.
Bikermom
15 July 2018
This really upsets me. I have been on Klonopin most of my life for panic attacks, and more recently hydrocodone for severe pain. My primary care physician told me it was federal law I can no longer be on both as it may cause my to die in my sleep! REALLY? If this were true I should already be dead and that's what I thought after the panic I went through when he told me this. It is medically necessary for me to be on both to function. He told me I need to start weening myself off one or the other. I had to choose my panic meds so he prescribed me venlafaxine that is supposed to calm me while I'm still on Klonopin... Weening off. I started having frightening heart problems fur a few weeks that continually for worse and I ended up in the emergency room. The ER doc said thenew med could actually cause the new heart problems. I am REALLY angry with my doctor! I will be researching fur a new MD and sound some background work on him/her
Rebecca19
1 Nov 2018
Already been through the waning process of my valium. Like everyone else I have taken my benzo with my pain meds for years with no issues. Have chronic insomnia and need 2 spinal fusions which I'm not getting. Risks outweigh any benefit. So my life sucks because I dont sleep anymore. Need to find a doctor that cares more about their patients then the government. Where are they??
Mddavis14
17 Jan 2019
It's a shame. There is no federal law about prescribing the 2 together. I get the same response from my Dr "you will die if these are taken together". I was on Soma 4× a day Lortab 10mg 4x a day and valium 10 mg 4x a day for over 17 years. I never died, nor became close to dying. Now I suffer as they have cut my meds to norco 10mg 2x a day. I can live without the soma, I have no problem with stopping any of these meds, but now I suffer every day because the pain is not helped by the Norco. My PCP says that after all these years my body doesn't respond to the Norco and that pain management needs to change the chemicals to something stronger, pain management says they can't that it's illegal. My rheumatologist tells me that they can prescribe something stronger and that they are lying to me..
blueeyez58
8 March 2018
Yep, I was told today by my primary care physician, who prescribes my Xanax, that I could no longer have Xanax, since I take Norco on a regular basis (prescribed by my pain management doctor). She said the FDA has very recently said that patients can no longer be treated with both benzos & opioids because of abuse and overdoses. I couldn’t believe it! She felt really bad telling me that, I could tell, but omg! She said that she could get in disciplinary trouble if they find she continued to prescribe Xanax for me, and that if a person gets in a automobile wreck and they find both benzos and opioids in that person’s system, the prescribing doctor(s) could be sued. So..I’m wondering the same thing. I truly don’t know how I am going to be able to get along without Xanax. My PCP did say that maybe a psychiatrist can prescribe Xanax even to a person on opioids, but based on what someone said earlier in this thread—it doesn’t look like that’s the case either.
greeneyz46
11 April 2018
This is the truth your provider is not lying to you.. I know this for a fact because the DEA is on a witch hunt and they suspending providers licenses and also prescribing rights they are working with the local pharmacies and getting reports from them and patients insurances to find out what they given.. I do not care what anyone is saying in the other posts I know this for a fact because I work in the medical field and my boss went through this nightmare. She will no longer Rx any pain medications or Benzos at all and we send all patient to to psych or pain management
Bikermom
15 July 2018
I'm going to do my own research for federal laws. I have been on Klonopin most of my life for panic attacks. After a server accident 13 years ago and doing my best over time to deal with the worsening pain I finally had to be put on Norco (Lortab; hydrocodone) to function. Recently my regular MD told me I can't be on both so he put me on an anti depressant/ anxiety med before I start weening off Klonopin. After a few weeks of new heart problems that continually got worse and to the point several occasions I felt my body was trying to have a stroke, I ended up in the ER and that doc told me the new med has been known to cause effects of the heart. I am extremely upset my doc would do this to me ESPECIALLY IF IT'S NOT A FEDERAL LAW! I personally feel many doc's are in it for the money. If we get well and have less of a need to see them they lose money
Tammy Moulton
16 Dec 2018
I have been on clonazepam and percocet for years
My PCP retired and had to find a new Dr who never said it was a new law only that he would not prescribe my clonazepam so I was sent to psychiatrist who also said he would not prescribe it. He said it was a law and I was not going to argue with him. My PM Dr cannot prescribe them but has no problem with me being on them and said the new Dr should of helped me taper off the clonazepam which he did not either did the psychiatrist. I did it myself, it has not been easy 4mths now and I still have panic attacks and can't stop shaking. The new Dr said he would give them back to me in March. So rt now I'm on seroquel which helps with sleep but with nothing else. If it was a law my PM Dr would have told me we have a very good Dr patients relationship. I just wish the other Drs would not use the new suggestions as an excuse to not help Ppl who really need both of these drugs to live a normal life.
Tammy Moulton
16 Dec 2018
I have been on clonazepam and percocet for years
My PCP retired and had to find a new Dr who never said it was a new law only that he would not prescribe my clonazepam so I was sent to psychiatrist who also said he would not prescribe it. He said it was a law and I was not going to argue with him. My PM Dr cannot prescribe them but has no problem with me being on them and said the new Dr should of helped me taper off the clonazepam which he did not either did the psychiatrist. I did it myself, it has not been easy 4mths now and I still have panic attacks and can't stop shaking. The new Dr said he would give them back to me in March. So rt now I'm on seroquel which helps with sleep but with nothing else. If it was a law my PM Dr would have told me we have a very good Dr patients relationship. I just wish the other Drs would not use the new suggestions as an excuse to not help Ppl who really need both of these drugs to live a normal life.
Storm1972
7 March 2018
I have searched for such "Law" and there is no such law that i can find, or know of. I was told today 3-6-18 by my Pa that my dose of benzo will be cut in half, and the weaning process begins! I've been on the same med, same dose, since 2005. My app today was basically a lecture about the FDA recommendations on all benzodiazepines, and was written a substitute medication to go with my half "weaning" dose of benzo. The drug that has helped me for many years, now is so so bad for me, and must be stopped.
Kenstan12
8 Jan 2018
I was told 3 months ago by my PA at the pain management that I had to get off xanax by the end of the year. That is was a federal law going into effect Jan 1 that you couldn’t take both together. I’ve been taking Nirco 10/350 and 1 bar of xanax for 12 years with no problem. This is all brought on by all the kids that can’t get a job and have no education start using heron and wind up overdosing.
Stephen Treloar
9 Jan 2018
I agree that is a few who are spoiling it for the many. Because they buy half of the crap on the streets makes kids vulnerable as they are consuming drugs outside of a controlled setting.
Kacb6173
2 March 2018
Today, 3-2-2018, I was called by my dr office saying new regulations say I can’t be on pain meds (norco 5-325) and Klonopin (1 mg) at the same time!! My dr is “tapering me off”, but I am going to see him later on this month to figure this out. I have been on these meds for several years, and I do not “doctor shop”, or do anything like that. I shouldn’t have to pick which one I have to let go of... pain pills or anti anxiety meds!!
Benjamin P1225
16 June 2017
There is no such law. However there are contraindicators with benzos combined with opiods. This is due to the fact that both types of medications are respitory depressants, they will both slow your heart rate and decrease blood pressure. As far as there being any laws, such laws do not exist. Reason i am certain is because i suffer from MS and take multiple narcotic pain meds in conjunction with my benzo (xanax) to manage my anxiety d/o and panic d/o. It is the discretion of the physician.
Oxysheagirl
14 Nov 2017
My pain doc, who I’ve been seeing for 7 years said that he will not see me anymore if I don’t quit the Ativan. I’ve been taking that for 18 years. I have horrible pain and panic attacks. I’m in NC. My psychiatrist says that he is upset about this, but nothing he can do about it. He still prescribed me the Ativan, but a lower dose which is fine. How on earth Can I find a pain doc who will prescribe me pain meds while I stay on Ativan? Thanks.
Jerri1976
2 Jan 2017
I have also been told this by my Dr, I had to make a choice 3 months ago whether or not to suffer from pain or panic attacks!!! I chose my Klonopin cause my panic attacks scare me so bad, I told my Dr it also scares me that I'm gonna be stuck in pain in my bed, Dr assured me there was other meds he could give me to cover the pain, I guess I'll find out Thursday!!! He said he had a vet that has severe PTSD and severe pain cause she's missing a leg and she had to make the same decision. It sucks for people who doesn't abuse it and really need it!!
PurpleButterfies
2 Jan 2017
Wow, well I guess it doesn't have to be against the law yet for docs to decide against it for whatever reason. Yes it is very sad and scary for those of us who need both and don't abuse it.
Stephen Treloar
3 Jan 2017
Making a veteran suffer is just plain stupidly cruel and a real kick in the face for servicemen and women who have either given everything or left pieces behind to serve the country.
JAMESPRESTON
10 Jan 2018
I have also been told this recently. I will probably choose alprazolam over hydrocodone due simply to the fact the pain is constant and expected. Panic attacks and anxiety come on very quickly with me at unknown times for unknown reasons. I do not want to be in a setting where anxiety and panic cause issues I have a hard time gaining control. I'll just have to deal with the daily pain.
chuck1957
22 Dec 2016
Somebody; NO, doNO, again the feds and medical board are putting pressure on benzo's as they have with the hydrocodone or any Opiate and are trying to restrict doctors from prescribing more due to overdoses of the two together. So it is going to get to be an act of congress in the USA to get benzo's as it is for pain medications at some point but at this time any doctor can prescribe these two together some doctors may say they can't but that is their preference, not law.
Tammy Moulton
4 Dec 2018
I have been on percocet for 10 years and also was on clonazepam for 10 years. I have multiple medical problems which require the pain meds and also have extremely bad anxiety which is made worse by thyroid problems and Hyperpituitarism and have to be on steroids for the rest of my life. My Dr retired because of health problems, she was the one who started me on clonazepam. The new Dr sent me to a psychiatrist which it seems like that is the norm now. Neither one will prescribe the clonazepam for me! I have followed all the rules and tried all the other medications they have given me. 6 so far and none have helped. Been off the clonazepam for 4 months and every day is worse than the last. To the point where I don't even want to leave my house. I understand the new laws. But am so tired of Drs being afraid to take care of their patients. Because you are on opioids you are treated like a drug seeker. Always followed the rules.
But now have to suffer because of the Ppl who abuse the drugs, which some of us have to take to live a normal life. Drs need to stand up for their patients first. With everything on computers today all they have to do is check who is Dr shopping and who are taking their medications like they are supposed to.
PurpleButterfies
21 Dec 2016
It's funny that you ask this, because of a situation im dealing with. I'm not sure why you said as of Dec 19th and am wondering as are others who told you this. Here's the thing... for a little while now there have been more cases reported of overdose from people taking a combination of opioids and benzos, like Vicodin and xanax for example. I have heard it quite a bit on the news over the past year. Personally my pain mgmt doctor has begun expressing concern about my combination of meds. One that he prescribes and one that my psychiatrist prescribes. I have been taking this combo for years and he is just now stating his concerns which I believe is an effort to protect himself, as he has also said he is on a crusade to get his patients off narcotics (he may be receiving pressure from somewhere).
Well I talked to my psychiatrist about this and she said that because I have been taking these medications for so long, and not at a high dose, that she is not concerned that I would overdose. Now... if you have not taken these medications before... say someone took them and they weren't prescribed for them... then there is a level of concern because of the high report of overdose. But it definitely has to do with the dosage, not just the combo. It is safe to take both if they are prescribed and taken appropriately. I think because of these recent reports there may be a more concerted effort by docs now not to prescribe this combination. But it is not against the law.
MeggieGirl
22 Dec 2016
BRAVO! Such an excellent answer.
Stephen Treloar
22 Dec 2016
I was reading an article in the Washington post the other day and it was all about the rampant use and misuse of opiates/opioid painkillers as it was before and is now increasingly becoming more of an issue. I personally find that hard to believe considering the crusade that most doctors seem to be onboard with. What are your opinions as I find that statement hard to credit given the experience of legitimate people here being unfairly (sometimes very fairly) treated by the authorities? It seems that one wrong word and you are a druggie, even if you have MRI evidence. The fibromyalgia people don't help as they suffer from pain that has no pathological cause or diagnostic imaging that can support it. Is it real? In Australia it is not a recognised or diagnosable pathology; the closest you can get is MCSS (multiple chemical sensitivity syndrome) which I DO have. Yes unexplained aches and pains are a pain, but that's it. I don't enjoy getting older either.
MeggieGirl
22 Dec 2016
I've been on a pain management program for moderate to severe pain for about 10 years, and benzodiazepines were added about 6 years ago, at a very low dose. Then I switched to a different benzodiazepine at a higher dose about 6 months ago. Within the last month, I've seen my Psychiatrist twice, and each time, she has commented about trying to begin titrating down on that medication to get down to a lower dose *specifically because of the pain management meds you also take*. She said it's hard on the respiratory system and potentially dangerous for building up a tolerance as well as creating an issue related to withdraw if I were to try to stop later down the road.
In my opinion, that article is a load of hogwash. The entire reason that people are taking these opiates in the first place is because at one point it was considered a first line of defense for doctors to prescribe this to patients who were in moderate to severe pain. I believe it was the DEA that began to come down on these Doctors because of others abusing the drugs by overdosing, selling their prescriptions, or number of other things, which only takes away opportunities for people with legitimate pain to have pain control that is truly needed. Now, doctors are being pushed to only prescribe opioids to those who are dying from terminal illness, and I think it's disgusting. I got out of the "ordinary" opiate cycle while being on OxyContin and Fentanyl when the OxyContin built up a tolerance, and I went in and told them that after nine months of the same dose my pain levels were higher than they had been since starting the OxyContin. They told me that I was an addict (I thought noooo tolerant) and I could stay at the same dose or not take anything at all. I got really upset that day because I was treated like a druggie. If you can't be honest with your pain management doctor, then who are you supposed to be honest with? That's the whole point of having a pain management contract! Anyway, that's the day I decided to switch to Buprenorphine and fire my Doctor. I've since been with someone new who is fantastic.
The entire issue really angers me because there are people who are going through endless suffering because of what others have done completely out of their own control, and it's totally unnecessary. It's bad enough that there's already such a stigma associated with taking opiates.
I've never put much thought into this, but the more more I hear about it, it seems that medical marijuana is very successful for a lot of people, so I don't know if this is only for nausea or if it's also good for targeting moderate to severe pain… or making you not care about it LOL Anyway, it wouldn't matter, anyway ... here in the US, there are only so many states that have passed legislation to allow it.
Jen69
21 Nov 2017
I have been on .5 Xanax and 10mg norco for years. I have lymphoma and suffered a car accident the same year I was diagnosed. What the hell? I wasn't warned and now suddenly taken off one or the other. I also lost my 18 year old daughter 3 years ago. I need both medications. Can my cancer dr prescribe my medicine, my regular Dr cant???
nursemisti
13 March 2018
This is happening everywhere. I have Fibromyalgia and have been on the same medication for 6 years I take a low dose of Xanax 1.0 mg ER and I take Norco 5 mg twice a day. Have never asked for an increase or different meds. Went in for my 6 month med review and they completely pulled me off of my Norco. I went from being able to function (with good and bad days of course) to not even being able to get out of bed to go watch my son play baseball. I am a very busy woman at only 46 years old. I run 2 HH Branches as a Director of Nurses, have 4 children, one with special needs and this has totally ruined my quality of life. I have tried other alternatives as the "guidance" suggests however I can't get my Norco any longer. So sad to have to live this way and I've been with the same doctor for 10 years so he knows I am not a drug seeker.
fantinew
21 Dec 2016
What??? Degree in pharmaceuticals and criminal law and NO!!! THERE IS NO FEDERAL LAW THAT STATES THAT YOU CANNOT TAKE THE TWO TOGETHER! OR THAT A DOCTOR CANNOT PRESCRIBE THEM AT THE SAME TIME!
Stephen Treloar
21 Dec 2016
The issue is if the OP goes to a doctor and says "there is no law that says you cannot prescribe benzos". Then it is likely that they will be flagged as a drug seeker which, as we all know, is the kiss of death for some of us.
fantinew
21 Dec 2016
“What you say is true, sad but true. Getting flagged when you do not deserve it is extremely unfair. In my experience it means a doctor has a chip on their shoulder due to some pain they themselves have suffered, like a sister or a child who was addicted at one time and now they have a personal problem with prescribing it, so they are gunshy and their patients suffer because of it ... ”
Stephen Treloar
22 Dec 2016
I've seen cases of outright cruelty; yes they breached their contracts but how much of a sin is it? I used to know a couple of locals (both scumbags) but one who was dying of AIDS got cut off Methadone for a minor but repeated breach and the other one was getting morphine 300mg per day for his (financial) pain. He got got cut off because his girlfriend stole them and sold them and he reported it to the police as a burglary to get a replacement script but claimed the wrong amount of theft which implied he had taken 1.3 grams (13 x 100mg morphine sulphate) the day before but tested negative for any opiates 24 hours later while complaining about terrible withdrawal symptoms. It was one of the happiest days of my life watching this scumbag who boasted about his supplemented income ($3000/month) having to resort to stealing $40 from me for drugs (meth). The last time we spoke where I didn't refer to him as a scumbag was before that.
He would be delighted to know I got his daughter fired from her employer when I commented to the management that they were very forgiving hiring the daughter of one of their least favourite shoplifters. Yes I was really nasty and they both deserved it. People who mess with me always pay eventually if I can help it.
Related topics
pain, hydrocodone, doctor, prescription, benzodiazepine, benzodiazepines
Further information
- Hydrocodone uses and safety info
- Hydrocodone prescribing info & package insert (for Health Professionals)
- Side effects of Hydrocodone (detailed)
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