Single-dose or multi-dose activated charcoal, hemodialysis, or whole bowel irrigation play no role in managing benzodiazepine toxicity. A unique toxidrome related to parenteral formulations of diazepam and lorazepam is propylene glycol https://pit-pack.de/how-to-celebrate-milestones-in-recovery-without-2/ poisoning. The predictors of flumazenil administration were different to other outcomes reflecting the use and contra-indications of this antidote.
Clinical Features
Treatment options may involve supportive care, antidote medication, and hospitalization in severe cases. The misuse of benzodiazepines, also known as benzodiazepine overdose “benzos,” is becoming increasingly common in the United States. To safely use benzos, it is important to understand the risks of overdose and how to avoid them.
- All statistical analyses were conducted in Stata (version 7, Stata Corporation, Texas USA).
- At Bedrock Recovery Center, we offer treatment options for patients struggling with benzodiazepine use.
- BMJ Best Practice topics are updated on a rolling basis in line with developments in evidence and guidance.
- Benzodiazepines, which are also sometimes referred to as benzos, are a class of prescription drugs used to treat a number of medical conditions.
- This represents a significant public health concern, as they often serve as both breadwinners and/or homemakers.
Study Design and Setting
Flumazenil is controversial for some healthcare professionals because there is a risk of the drug causing acute benzodiazepine withdrawal and seizures when it’s used in the case of a benzo overdose. Like any drug, healthcare professionals must weigh the benefits against the risks of flumazenil. Benzodiazepines, which are also sometimes referred to as benzos, are a class of prescription drugs used to treat a number of medical conditions. These can include mental health conditions such as anxiety, insomnia and panic disorder, as well as physical health conditions, including certain seizure disorders.
- After flumazenil, the person needs to be carefully monitored for any adverse events or severe respiratory depression.
- The typical person suffering from a benzodiazepine overdose will show signs of lowered brain activity but will have normal vital signs.
- Our treatment services are catered toward discovering and implementing solutions for sustained, long-term recovery.
Signs of Benzodiazepine Overdose
- The use of other drugs — for instance, another prescription drug, or an opioid drug — may also affect your treatment, largely because this can affect the symptoms experienced and the severity.
- In addition, the pack size and packaging of alprazolam should be reviewed to decrease the risk of it being taken for deliberate self poisoning.
- The risk increases with high doses or mixed overdoses involving multiple CNS depressants.
- Even if a drug does show up in the test, it only means the person has used the drug recently; it doesn’t confirm that the drug caused the person’s current condition, nor does it identify exactly which drug the person took.
- This may trigger seizures, especially in patients with long-term benzodiazepine use or co-ingestion of tricyclic antidepressants.
Throughout her career, Dietrich has helped educate medical students, residents, fellows, and junior attendings, including as an educator at Ohio State University and the American College of Emergency Physicians. She also collaborated on several research projects, including one on concussions and one on improving mental healthcare for children. Dietrich helped develop guidelines on the impact of concussions on children and worked with trauma surgeons to enhance care for pediatric trauma patients. According to the CDC, in 2019 and Alcoholics Anonymous 2020, for every 100,000 people who visited the emergency departments, 23.7% were cases of Benzodiazepine overdoses.
