Megadose bromazepam dependence.
Year: 2016
Type: article
Study design: Case Report
Abstract: BACKGROUND: Benzodiazepines (BZDs) are among the most widely prescribed drugs in developed countries. Since BZDs can produce tolerance and dependence even in a short time, their use is recommended for a very limited time. However, these recommendations have been largely disregarded. The chronic use of BZDs causes a number of serious side effects, i.e. cognitive impairment, falls, traffic accidents, dependence and tolerance. METHODS: We present the case of a 37 years old woman taking daily doses of 220 mg of bromazepam. The patient's anxiety, depression and cognitive status were evaluated with a battery of questionnaires. A sleep laboratory test was performed in search of sleep apneas and sleepiness during the day. A Cerebral PET SCAN was executed in search of altered cerebral metabolism. RESULTS: Blood concentrations of bromazepam reached 7800 μg/L. Questionnaire evaluations showed significant depression and anxiety but only moderate cognitive impairment. Oxygen saturation was normal throughout the Sleep lab test, respiratory events were very few and sleepiness was moderate with an average latency of 9 minutes. Brain cortical glucose consumption was homogeneously slightly reduced. CONCLUSIONS: With doses of bromazepan reaching 15 times the toxic dose, anxiety remained high. Cognition, sleepiness, respiratory sleep events and brain metabolism remained remarkably close to normal.
Source: PubMed
Authors: Alma Dzubur Kulenovic, Ferid Agani, Esmina Avdibegovic, Miro Jakovljevic, Dragan Babic, Abdulah Kucukalic, Sabina Kucukalic, Emina Sabic Dzananovic, Alma Bravo Mehmedbasic, Aferdita Goci Uka, Shpend Haxhibeqiri, Valdete Haxhibeqiri, Blerina Hoxha, Osman Sinanovic, Nermina Kravic, Mirnesa Muminovic, Branka Aukst-Margetic, Nenad Jaksic, Ana Cima Franc, Dusko Rudan, Marko Pavlovic, Romana Babic, Elma Feric Bojic, Damir Marjanovic, Nada Bozina, Christiane Ziegler, Christiane Wolf, Bodo Warrings, Katharina Domschke, Jürgen Deckert
Language: English
Subfield: Epidemiology
Field: Medicine
Domain: Health Sciences
Open Access status: green
OpenAlex ID: W2529509079