Benzodiazepine toxicity with profound suppression of the electroencephalogram.
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.
Stabley
J P
JP
Division of Neurology, College of Medicine, Pennsylvania State University, Hershey, USA.
Frear
E J
EJ
Wine
M
M
Kothari
M J
MJ
D014151:Anti-Anxiety Agents / Q000009:adverse effects*; D004569:Electroencephalography / Q000187:drug effects*; D006801:Humans; D008140:Lorazepam / Q000009:adverse effects*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged
D014151:Anti-Anxiety Agents; D008140:Lorazepam