Acute & emergency · UKMLA & AKT
Benzodiazepine overdose
A free high-yield preview for the UKMLA Applied Knowledge Test. Below are the key points to recognise benzodiazepine overdose — the full SA Note notes add investigations, management, complications and 10 practice questions.
Key high-yield points
- CNS depression - drowsiness, confusion, ataxia, dysarthria, nystagmus progressing to coma
- Respiratory depression - reduced rate and depth; rising pCO2 = impending respiratory failure
- Relative cardiovascular stability - significant hypotension strongly suggests co-ingestion (e.g. TCAs, alcohol, opioids)
- Hypotonia and reduced reflexes, anterograde amnesia
Isolated benzodiazepine overdose is rarely fatal. Fatal outcomes almost always involve co-ingestion - particularly alcohol, opioids, or TCAs. Always assume mixed overdose until proven otherwise.
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