Toxicity of alprazolam
By:Aya raad jamil
introduction
•
Alprazolam: is used to treat anxiety and panic disorders.
It belongs to a class of medications called
benzodiazepines which act on the brain and nerves
(central nervous system) to produce a calming effect. It
works by enhancing the effects of a certain natural
chemical in the body (GABA).
Case study
•A 6
years old female patient was brought by her
family to the emergency hospital toxicology unit in
a state of disturbed conscious level.
• They
alleged that she may ingest 2 tablets of her
grandfather’s hypnotic drug (Xanax 0.25 mg) and
this was mostly since 2 h
Examination
▪ Pulse
:112 beat/min
▪ Bp:90/50
mmhg
▪ Temp:37.6
c
▪ Respiratory
▪ eyes:
rate :20 resp.cycle/min
pupils were normal
▪ With
generalized hypotonia and hyporeflexia allover the body and
she was in coma grade II
▪ Arterial
▪ ECG
blood gases was normal
showed sinus tachycardia
Laboratory test
• Toxicology
screen was negative for phenytoin,
valproic acid, digitalis and salicylate.
• The
kit of bemzodiazepines detection in urine was
positive
management
❑Humidified
warm 100% oxygen mask and 250 ml of
normal saline infusion was given
❑Gastric
❑30
lavage was performed
mg of activated charcoal was given
❑2.5
ml of 5ml of flumazenil ampoules was given
slowly over 5 min after insuring no incidence of
antidepressant co ingestion
Management
⅟₂ h later, the conscious level improved, she localized the
pain and send sounds.
The patient was admitted to the I.C.U. for observation and
cardiac monitoring due to the long t⅟₂ Of alprazolam
metabolites
Thank you