The doctor mentions that Tess had both fentanyl and benzodiazepines in her system, which is one of the most dangerous drug combinations and one of the more difficult types of overdoses to treat. Opioids like hydrocodone, morphine, oxycodone & fentanyl and benzodiazepines like diazepam (Vaulim), alprazolam (Xanax) & lorazepam (Ativan) both are CNS depressants. Which means they suppress the function of the central nervous system, and most strongly in the nerves controlling the respiratory muscles; when the two drugs are mixed, even at normal therapeutic doses, it can cause dangerous respiratory depression. Overdoses are hard to treat because while the effects of opioids can be rapidly reversed with naloxone (Narcan), there are no agents to reverse the effects of benzodiazepines. A benzo overdose can only be treated by pumping the patient's stomach and managing the symptoms, which often includes being put on a ventilator. If someone has been a chronic user of benzos they have to be carefully detoxed, because unlike opioid withdrawal which is extremely unpleasant but rarely dangerous, benzodiazepine withdrawals can be fatal. Benzos have a very similar effect on the brain and CNS as alcohol, and both have very similar withdrawals that can result in fatal seizures, which is why people who were long time users, or users of large doses, need to be slowly weaned off the drug instead of going cold turkey.
