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Misuse of Antianxiety Medications and Sedatives
Symptoms and Signs of Sedative Toxicity
Antianxiety medications and sedatives causes both immediate and long-term symptoms. Antianxiety medications and sedatives decrease alertness and can result in Slurred speech Poor coordination Confusion These effects are magnified when people take Alcohol Use . In older people, symptoms may be more severe and may include dizziness, disorientation, delirium, and loss of balance. Falls may occur, resulting in broken bones, especially hip fractures. Higher doses cause more severe symptoms, including Stupor and Coma (people can be aroused only temporarily and with difficulty) Very slow and shallow breathing Eventually death (mainly with barbiturates) Some people experience memory loss, faulty judgment, a shortened attention span, and frightening shifts in their emotions. People may speak slowly and have difficulty thinking and understanding others. People may have involuntary eye movements (nystagmus). The extent of withdrawal symptoms varies from drug to drug and depends on the dose. Symptoms may begin within 12 to 24 hours. People who have used sedatives such as benzodiazepines for more than a few days often feel that they cannot sleep without them. When they stop the medications, they may have mild withdrawal symptoms such as Anxiety and nervousness at bedtime Poor sleep Disturbing dreams Irritability when they awaken More serious symptoms of benzodiazepine withdrawal may include rapid heart rate, rapid breathing, confusion, and sometimes seizures. Serious withdrawal reactions can occur with barbiturates. If high doses have been taken, abrupt withdrawal can produce a severe and potentially life-threatening reaction, much like Withdrawal symptoms . Other effects include dehydration, delirium, insomnia, confusion, and frightening visual and auditory hallucinations (seeing and hearing things that are not there). People are usually hospitalized during the withdrawal process because a severe reaction is possible. 