Oral poisoning by benzodiazepines. Case report and bibliographic review.
Abstract
ABSTRACT
Alprazolam is a benzodiazepine of intermediate action. Its average life is from 6 to 12 hours. Few studies exist about the poisoning of this benzodiazepine. Oral poisoning by benzodiazepines (BZD) that are taken in overdose without adjuvant rarely cause significant toxicity. The classic clinical presentation of such poisoning includes CNS depression with normal vital signs. Clinically there is dysarthria, ataxia and alteration of the mental state. Respiratory compromise is uncommon with isolated oral intakes, but can be seen when patients ingest hypnotic agents, additional sedatives (such as ethanol) or when doctors administer BZD as one of several agents for procedural sedation. Case Summary: a 17-year-old male patient who orally ingests 12 tablets of alprazolam as an attempt at autolysis. He comes for the emergency service with drowsiness, speech slowness, incoherence and dizziness. Stable Vital Signs. The complementary exams do not reveal abnormality. Psychologists and Psychiatrists and social work are consulted, confirming diagnosis of major depression, in 72 hours it evolves favorably. Conclusions: Oral benzodiazepine poisoning in an isolated manner rarely causes respirator depression, so the myth that benzodiazepine poisoning is equal to respiratory depression is ruled out.
Key words: case reports, benzodiazepines, drugs overdose, toxity, Suicide attempted.
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