Posted by sukarno on March 17, 2010, at 0:45:15
In reply to Re: Xanax, posted by sukarno on March 17, 2010, at 0:27:14
I did remember reading that triazolobenzodiazepines (a general rule is that any BZD ending with "lam" is a triazolobenzodiazepine) are more toxic in overdose.
One patient took [xxx] tablets of Halcion (triazolam), went to her neighbour and then collapsed. Medics could not revive her and she passed away.
Xanax also is responsible for more deaths in overdose.
Valium, by comparison, is fairly safe when taken in overdose. Certainly bad things can happen, but folks have taken a "truckload" of diazepam and survived, even without much medical intervention. I remember a friend of mine took [xxx] Tranxene (clorazepate, a long acting BZD, with its active metabolite being desmethyldiazepam) tablets of 7.5mg strength. The hospital took no special actions except to induce vomiting. Otherwise she did not need respiratory support. However, she was staggering around for two days after recovering. I argued against the hospital releasing her, but they left her in my custody in a very bad state. Slurred speech and walking just like someone extremely intoxicated on alcohol (not possible for her to walk a straight line). She had suffered from depression and had attempted suicide. Despite telling ER staff this, they just let her go because she had not stated to them that she had desired suicide!
:-( Of course, she couldn't talk because she was knocked out.
Sorry that I digressed, but Xanax is more risky in overdose and has caused more deaths. This could also point to a mechanism of action of TBZDs (triazolobenzodiazepines), such as binding to more GABA receptors, tighter binding, or both.
poster:sukarno
thread:939261
URL: http://www.dr-bob.org/babble/20100305/msgs/939772.html