Overview
- Packaging and patient leaflets will carry the wording: "May cause addiction, dependence, and withdrawal reactions."
- Updates apply to widely used medicines, including diazepam, lorazepam, temazepam, pregabalin, gabapentin, zopiclone and zolpidem.
- Patient information will define dependence versus addiction, offer advice on tapering and stopping safely, and prompt conversations with healthcare professionals.
- The Commission on Human Medicines backed new resources and warnings against combining these drugs with opioids or alcohol and against sharing prescriptions.
- Manufacturers will roll out changes over a transition period as the MHRA continues safety monitoring, encourages Yellow Card reports, and cautions patients not to stop treatment without medical advice.