Signs and Symptoms of Benzodiazepine Overdose

Signs and Symptoms of Benzodiazepine Overdose

Benzodiazepines are depressants that produce sedation and hypnosis, relieve anxiety and muscle spasms, and reduce seizures.

Symptoms of Benzodiazepine overdose include:

• Drowsiness or extreme fatigue.
• Confusion.
• Agitation.
• Anxiety.
• Mood changes.
• Dizziness.
• Slurred speech or acting drunk.
• Amnesia.
• Physical weakness or lack of coordination.
• Hypotonia (lack of muscle tone).
• Blurry vision.
• Difficulty breathing or depressed breathing.
• Stupor or unresponsiveness.
• Hallucinations.
• Hypotension (lowered blood pressure).
• Coma.

Benzodiazepine medications like Xanax®, Valium®, Halcion®, Ativan® and Klonopin® enhance the effects of alcohol, and vice versa, making overdose or poisoning much more likely when these substances are combined. It is possible to take too much Xanax®, Valium®, or Klonopin® alone, but coingestants like alcohol and opioid drugs are much more often found in cases of overdose on benzodiazepines.