Benzodiazepines are widely used for many diseases, and benzodiazepine overdose is
globally increasing in proportion to its prescriptions. Although most benzodiazepine
overdoses are known to be safe and nonfatal without coingestions, morbidity or mortality
after benzodiazepine overdose is closely related with the duration of unconsciousness
or depth of compromised airway. Proper use of flumazenil, a potent antidote of benzodiazepine,
seems to accelerate the recovery from the toxicity after benzodiazepine overdose.
However, as the case we present demonstrates, careful attention and repetitive evaluations
before and after use of flumazenil may be needed in benzodiazepine overdose because
resedation occurs in approximately 30% of total flumazenil-treated cases, which suggests
that the risk of aspiration or incidental death after administrating flumazenil might
be significant without careful monitoring.
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Article Info
Publication History
Published online: April 14, 2014
Accepted:
April 1,
2014
Received in revised form:
March 31,
2014
Received:
October 13,
2013
Footnotes
☆Source(s) of support in the form of equipment, drug, and grants: None.
Identification
Copyright
© 2014 Elsevier Inc. Published by Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.
