Acute & emergency · UKMLA & AKT
Benzodiazepine overdose
A free high-yield preview for the UKMLA Applied Knowledge Test, covering how to recognise this condition. The full SA Note notes add investigations, management and complications, with practice questions on this topic.
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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