Accidental overdose of diazepam antidote

To reduce the risk of acute withdrawal reactions, use a gradual taper to reduce the dosage or to discontinue benzodiazepines. Benzodiazepine dependence can occur after administration of therapeutic doses for as few as 1 to 2 weeks and withdrawal symptoms may be seen after the discontinuation of therapy. The risks of physiological dependence and withdrawal increase with longer treatment duration and higher daily dose. Abrupt discontinuation or rapid dosage reduction of benzodiazepines after continued use may precipitate acute withdrawal reactions, which can be life-threatening. Advise patients to seek immediate medical attention if they experience symptoms such as trouble breathing. Abuse and misuse of benzodiazepines commonly involve concomitant use of other medications, alcohol, and/or illicit substances, which is associated with an increased frequency of serious adverse outcomes, including respiratory depression, overdose, and death.

Avoid or minimize concomitant use of CNS depressants or other medications associated with addiction or abuse. To discourage abuse, the smallest appropriate quantity of the benzodiazepine should be prescribed, and proper disposal instructions for unused drug should be given to patients. A potential risk of abuse should not preclude appropriate treatment in any patient, but requires more intensive counseling and monitoring. Assess patients for risks of addiction, abuse, or misuse before drug initiation, and monitor patients who receive benzodiazepines routinely for development of these behaviors or conditions. The use of benzodiazepines exposes users to risks of abuse, misuse, and addiction, which can lead to overdose or death. Use diazepam with caution in patients with a history of alcoholism or substance abuse due to the potential for psychological dependence.

The risks associated with its use often outweigh the benefits.Abrupt discontinuation, alcoholism, benzodiazepine dependence, substance abuse It is contraindicated in BZD-dependent patients because of the risk of provoking seizures. The BZD antagonist flumazenil can be used in first-time or infrequent BZD users to reverse CNS depression. Most deaths from BZD overdose are from respiratory depression as a result of mixed overdoses with BZD and other respiratory depressants, particularly alcohol and opioids. Assisted ventilation may be necessary.Дeath is uncommon. Acute management consists of maintaining airway, respiration, and hemodynamic support while excluding other diagnoses. Treatment of overdose is by symptom management, not by quantitative assay. Larger doses can cause coma and respiratory depression. The key feature is excessive sedation with unremarkable vital signs and anterograde amnesia. Older people, who commonly have diminished drug clearance and polypharmacy, are at especially high risk of overdose. Overdose can be intentional in suicidal patients accidental in combination with other central nervous system (CNS) depressants, such as alcohol and opioids, and in older people and occasionally by medication error. Benzodiazepines (BZDs) are the most commonly prescribed medications for anxiety, sedation, and sleep.

Accidental overdose of diazepam antidote