Benzodiazepines and respiratory depression

[9point75]

What's the real deal with this? My understanding was that benzo's were safe in overdose which is why they made barbiturates obsolete. Deaths due to pure benzo overdoses are almost unheard of in my neck of the woods.

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[Manicsleep]

True but it still happens.
Barbs increase time and benzos increase freq. of the GABA receptor opening.

You give a high enough dose to someone susceptible to resp. depression (CF, severe COPD, pneumonia etc) and they can die. Also these GABA meds often work in concert with other GABA meds such as the most commonly used drug in america...grape juice.

 

[strangeglove]

A more important consideration is aspiration risk and decreased gag reflex, IMO.