Benzodiazepine toxicity with profound suppression of the electroencephalogram.

Publication/Presentation Date

7-1-2000

Abstract

The authors report the case of a 60-year-old man with respiratory distress secondary to exacerbation of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, right lower lobe pneumonia, and severe bronchospasm. High doses of lorazepam were given intravenously after failure to control bronchospasm and agitation with bronchodilators and mucolytic agents; the patient was unresponsive to all stimuli while receiving lorazepam. Electroencephalography revealed a profoundly suppressed pattern without accompanying low-voltage fast activity--this was reversible following withdrawal of the lorazepam.

Volume

100

Issue

7

First Page

435

Last Page

436

ISSN

0098-6151

Disciplines

Medicine and Health Sciences

PubMedID

10943091

Department(s)

Department of Medicine

Document Type

Article

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