

Worldwide benzodiazepines are commonly used in overdose situations.Īs benzodiazepines are one of the most highly prescribed class of drugs they are commonly used in self-poisoning by drug overdose. There is an antidote, flumazenil, but its use is controversial. Supportive care is the mainstay of treatment of benzodiazepine overdose. Severe symptoms include coma and respiratory depression. The most common symptoms of overdose include central nervous system (CNS) depression and intoxication with impaired balance, ataxia, and slurred speech. However, combinations of high doses of benzodiazepines with alcohol, barbiturates, opiates or tricyclic antidepressants are particularly dangerous, and may lead to severe complications such as coma or death. When taken alone in overdose they rarely cause severe complications or fatality, and deaths after hospital admission are rare. Benzodiazepine overdose describes the ingestion of one of the drugs in the benzodiazepine class in quantities greater than are recommended or generally practiced.
