Tranquilizer "Phenazepam" refers to potent sedatives. When using it, in no case should you exceed the recommended number of tablets. Otherwise, you can get severe intoxication. In toxicological and narcological practice, poisoning with this tranquilizer is often noted. In such cases, the antidote "Phenazepam" is used. It neutralizes the sedative effect of the tablets. What is this drug and how to use it? We will consider these issues in the article.
Description of tranquilizer
"Phenazepam" is a tranquilizer from the benzodiazepine group. This is a fairly powerful drug. In terms of its effect on the body, it surpasses many other similar drugs.
The active component of the tranquilizer (phenazepam) binds to special benzodiazepine receptors in the body. This contributes to better absorption of chlorine ions by nerve cells and a decrease in the excitability of neurons.
Anxiety, irritability disappear in a person, and the psyche calms down. Sleep becomes deep and strong. In addition, the drug relaxes muscles and eliminates cramps.
Indications and contraindications
The drug "Phenazepam" is prescribed for the following pathologies:
- neurosis;
- insomnia;
- anxiety disorders;
- hypochondria;
- epilepsy;
- panic attacks;
- neurocirculatory dystonia;
- withdrawal syndrome in alcoholism and drug addiction;
- in preparation for operations.
This medicine should not be prescribed for lung diseases. It inhibits respiratory function. Also, the drug is contraindicated in pregnant women and patients with myasthenia gravis.
A tranquilizer is never prescribed for a long time. Benzodiazepine drugs are often addictive. Therefore, people prone to drug dependence are not recommended to take this drug.
Many patients experience lethargy and drowsiness in the early days of tranquilizer treatment. With an overdose, these side effects are amplified many times.
Causes of poisoning
On average, tranquilizer doses of 0.5 to 5 mg are used to treat neuropsychiatric pathologies. In severe cases, it is allowed to take 10 mg of the drug per day. However, this dose is used in several doses.
Acute poisoning occurs if a person takes more than 10 mg of this medicine once. When taking about 1 g of the drug, death occurs.
What are the causes of an overdose of phenazepam tablets? Typically, patients exceed the allowable amount of medication in the following cases:
- With tolerance to the drug. Over time, the body adapts to a tranquilizer. The previous number of tablets ceases to have the desired effect. The patient increases the dose of the drug, and the result is poisoning.
- In the formation of mental and physical dependence. Long-term use of the drug can be addictive. An unhealthy addiction to the drug is formed. In order to achieve maximum sedative effect, a person begins to take more and more Phenazepam tablets.
- With withdrawal syndrome. A sharp cessation of taking a tranquilizer leads to a deterioration in well-being. For this reason, doctors recommend gradually reducing the dose of the drug. The drug withdrawal syndrome is accompanied by unpleasant sensations: weakness, weakness, insomnia, anxiety, decreased mood. To get rid of such symptoms, patients often take an excessive amount of tablets.
- With a joint intake of alcohol. Tranquilizers and alcohol are completely incompatible. Ethanol potentiates the action of tablets, which can lead to respiratory depression and heart function. Even therapeutic doses of the drug can become dangerous if, against the background of treatment, the patient allows himself to drink alcohol.
- When attempting suicide. Psychiatrists use this medicine with caution in cases of severe depression. The drug may increase suicidal tendencies in such patients.
Often, small children accidentally poison tranquilizers. Therefore, the packaging with the drug should be kept out of the reach of the child.
It is important to remember that an overdose can occur not only with a single dose of a large number of tablets. If a person for a long time even slightly exceeds the permissible dose of the drug, then chronic intoxication may occur.
Overdose Signs
Symptoms and signs of an overdose of "Phenazepam" depend on the number of tablets taken, as well as on alcohol consumption during therapy.
With an overdose of a mild degree, the following manifestations are noted:
- drowsiness and desire to lie down;
- asthenia;
- lethargy;
- memory impairment and performance.
Such phenomena can be chronic if a person constantly violates the recommended treatment regimen.
Medium intoxication is accompanied by the following symptoms:
- blurred consciousness;
- severe drowsiness;
- deep sleep with difficult awakening;
- dyspeptic symptoms (nausea, vomiting, constipation or diarrhea);
- increased saliva;
- cardiac arrhythmia;
- a sharp decrease in blood pressure;
- severe inhibition;
- difficulty breathing
- urination disorders.
In severe overdose, the patient has dangerous symptoms:
- loss of consciousness (up to the development of coma);
- weak breathing
- rare heartbeat;
- increased muscle tone;
- cramps in arms and legs;
- pulmonary edema.
In severe overdose, the survival of patients depends on the timeliness of care. If the treatment is late, then the person may die from respiratory depression.
First aid
What to do with an overdose of "Phenazepam"? An ambulance crew must be called in immediately. Before doctors arrive, the following measures must be taken:
- If the person is conscious, then you need to do a gastric lavage. It is necessary to dissolve 2 - 3 teaspoons of salt in 1 liter of pure water and give the patient a drink. Then, press the back of the patient's tongue to induce vomiting. However, this measure only helps in the first 2 hours after taking an excessive amount of tablets.
- Then the patient is given an enterosorbent: Polysorb, activated carbon, or Smecta. This will help reduce the effects of the tranquilizer on the body.
- If the patient lost consciousness, then it must be turned on its side. In this position, a person should be before the arrival of doctors. This will help prevent tongue retention and vomiting into the respiratory system.
Further treatment of the patient with an overdose of "Phenazepam" is carried out in a hospital. The course of therapy usually takes from 14 to 90 days. Its duration depends on the severity of intoxication.
In the hospital, the antidote Phenazepam is administered to the patient. This is the drug Flumazenil. Next, we will consider this medicine in more detail.
Antidote Description
Doctors toxicologists believe that with an overdose of tranquilizers, "Flumazenil" is the best antidote. In case of phenazepam poisoning, the drug blocks receptors that are sensitive to benzodiazepine drugs. As a result, the patient drowsiness and lethargy disappears, breathing and consciousness are restored. This is the only drug with a similar mechanism of action. It is also available under the trade name Anexat.
Indications for use of antidote
The antidote "Phenazepam" is administered not only in acute poisoning with benzodiazepines. "Flumazenil" is also prescribed for chronic overdose of tranquilizers. This drug also alleviates side effects during sedative treatment.
When you can not enter an antidote
There are cases when the introduction of the antidote "Phenazepam" is contraindicated. "Flumazenil" is not used if the patient is taking tranquilizers from epilepsy or high intracranial pressure. Otherwise, blocking the benzodiazepine receptors can lead to a seizure or severe cerebral hypertension.
Often there is a combined poisoning with "Phenazepam" and tricyclic antidepressants (for example, "Amitriptyline"). In this case, it is also impossible to introduce an antidote, this can worsen the patient's condition.
How to treat overdose in such cases? The patient undergo forced diuresis to excrete tranquilizer metabolites through the kidneys. The patient is given droppers with the diuretic drug Furosemide. In mild cases, the diuretic is administered orally.
How to administer an antidote
Flumazenil is released in powder form. It is intended for intravenous administration. In case of poisoning, 0.3 mg of the drug is diluted in saline and a dropper is placed on the patient. If necessary, increase the dosage, carefully monitoring the patient's condition.
Is it possible to administer an antidote at home before the ambulance arrives? Doctors do not recommend this. Far from always the first aid person is well versed in the technique of intravenous injection. Inadequate administration of the drug can harm the victim.
In addition, it is not always possible to establish what exactly the patient poisoned, especially if the person is unconscious. Flumazenil has contraindications that only a doctor can consider. Therefore, the use of the antidote "Phenazepam" at home is highly undesirable. It can only be administered in a hospital under the supervision of a specialist.
Other drugs
As already mentioned, Flumazenil is the only benzodiazepine receptor blocker. Other drugs are prescribed only for the symptomatic treatment of overdose. They are not antidotes for tranquilizers. Consider these tools in more detail:
- Mesocarb. This tool is a powerful psychostimulant. It helps reduce the undesirable effects of tranquilizers. This drug is prescribed for the correction of residual overdose phenomena (lethargy, asthenia, drowsiness). However, with prolonged use, this remedy can cause serious dependence.
- Analeptics ("Cordiamin", "Caffeine", "Bemegrid"). These drugs stimulate breathing and heart muscle function. They are administered to maintain vital body functions.
- Vomiting preparations (Digoxin, Apomorphine, Emetin). Such funds are effective only in the first hours after an overdose. They provoke a gag reflex and remove toxins from the stomach.
Body recovery
What are the consequences of an overdose of "Phenazepam" may occur in the distant future? The body recovers after poisoning quite slowly. Often, the following residual effects persist in patients for a long time:
- movement coordination disorders;
- dizziness;
- asthenia;
- emotional lability;
- depression;
- asthenia;
- impaired liver and kidney function.
All this indicates that "Phenazepam" is a difficult drug. For this reason, it is dispensed from pharmacies strictly by prescription. When taking it, you need to be very careful and adhere to the recommended treatment regimen.