What is the primary toxic effect of benzodiazepines?

What is the primary toxic effect of benzodiazepines?

Patients with benzodiazepine toxicity will primarily present with central nervous system depression ranging from mild drowsiness to a coma-like, stuporous state. The classic presentation of an isolated benzodiazepine overdose consists of CNS depression with normal vital signs.

What is the antidote for benzodiazepine overdose?

Flumazenil, a specific benzodiazepine antagonist, is useful in reversing the sedation and respiratory depression that often occur when benzodiazepines are administered to patients undergoing anesthesia or when patients have taken an intentional benzodiazepine overdose.

Does naloxone reverse benzodiazepine?

Naloxone only works on overdoses caused by opioids. This family of drugs includes prescription painkillers like OxyContin, fentanyl, methadone, and Vicodin, as well as street drugs like heroin. Naloxone will not reverse overdose resulting from non-opioid drugs, like cocaine, benzodiazepines (“benzos”), or alcohol.

Is a benzodiazepine overdose fatal?

Acute overdose is characterised by excessive sedation with impaired mental status and diminished postural stability and reflexes. Although benzodiazepines are relatively safe medications, acute overdose may induce respiratory depression resulting in coma and even death.

How do you reverse the effects of benzodiazepines?

Medication Summary Flumazenil is a selective competitive antagonist of the gamma-aminobutyric acid (GABA) receptor and is the only available specific antidote for benzodiazepine (BZD) toxicity; it will reverse the effects of BZDs but must be used with caution.

What is the main treatment of barbiturate toxicity?

Treatment. Treatment involves supporting a person’s breathing and blood pressure. While there is no antidote, activated charcoal may be useful. Multiple doses of charcoal may be required.

What reverses Benzos?

Naloxone is used to reverse the effects of opiates while flumazenil is used to reverse the effects of benzodiazepines.

Which is the best treatment for benzodiazepine overdose?

We discuss the management of benzodiazepine overdose including zopiclone and zolpidem as which carefully selected cases to use flumazenil. Benzodiazepines are a frequent presentation either as a single ingesting or in combination. With good supportive care prognosis is excellent.

How does benzodiazepine increase the opening frequency of chlorine?

Benzodiazepines are a frequent presentation either as a single ingesting or in combination. With good supportive care prognosis is excellent. Simple mechanism, they enhance the inhibitory neurotransmitter GABA by increasing the opening frequency of chlorine.

Which is more toxic alprazolam or benzodiazepines?

Isbister GK, O’Regan L, Sibbritt D et al. Alprazolam is relatively more toxic than other benzodiazepines in overdose. British Journal of Clinical Pharmacology 2004; 58 (1): 88-95.

What happens to patients with chronic theophylline toxicity?

Patients with chronic toxicity usually have a poorer outcome as the diagnosis is often overlooked and they are often elderly with other co-morbidities. They usually present with vomiting and tachycardia, seizures or dysrhythmias maybe present. Serum theophylline levels will help further refine the risk assessment.