Over 10 years in the United Kingdom, 1512 fatal poisonings have been attributed to benzodiazepines with or without alcohol. Benzodiazepines are one of the most highly prescribed classes of drugs, and they are commonly used in self-poisoning. The US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has subsequently issued a black box warning regarding concurrent use of benzodiazepines and opioids. In 2013, benzodiazepines were involved in 31% of the estimated 22,767 deaths from prescription drug overdose in the United States. However, combinations of high doses of benzodiazepines with alcohol, barbiturates, opioids or tricyclic antidepressants are particularly dangerous, and may lead to severe complications such as coma or death. ĭeaths from single-drug benzodiazepine overdoses occur infrequently, particularly after the point of hospital admission. 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, impaired balance, ataxia, and slurred speech. Benzodiazepine overdose describes the ingestion of one of the drugs in the benzodiazepine class in quantities greater than are recommended or generally practiced.

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