Background: Various studies investigated the effects of Benzodiazepines on insulin and blood glucose levels and provided contradictory results. The present study aimed to evaluate the clinical effects of Benzodiazepine poisoning on hypoglycemia. Methods: This retrospective cross-sectional study (from 22/June/2018 to 22/December/2018) was conducted on all medical records of adult patients with Benzodiazepine poisoning who were referred to Ali-Asghar Hospital. The required data were collected using a data-gathering form and then analyzed. Results: In total, 61 patients were enrolled in this study. Furthermore, 19 (31. 2%) patients developed hypoglycemia. Besides, 50 (82%) patients used Benzodiazepine for a suicide attempt, i. e. higher in patients with hypoglycemia (P<0. 0001). Multivariate logistic regression test data indicated that Benzodiazepine consumption for suicide attempt (OR=47. 978, P=0. 001, 95%CI, 5. 313-433. 277), and the respiratory rate at the time of suicide (OR=0. 549, P=0. 023, 95%CI, 0. 328-0. 920) were predictive factors for hypoglycemia in patients with Benzodiazepine poisoning. Conclusion: Our study data suggested that 31% of patients who were poisoned with Benzodiazepines developed hypoglycemia. The suicidal use of drugs and respiratory rates were predictive factors for hypoglycemia in these patients.

Background: Benzodiazepine (BZD) toxicity alone or with other drugs is common in poisoning emergency departments of Iran. The aim of this study was to evaluate the cardiovascular findings in patients with Benzodiazepine poisoning upon admission to the emergency department.Methods: In a prospective study which was followed by retrospective analysis, 267 patients poisoned with BZD were evaluated. ECG and initial vital signs and symptoms of poisoning were evaluated upon admission. To investigate the relationship between cardiovascular symptoms, changes in ECG, and the type of Benzodiazepine consumption, Spearman correlation was utilized.Results: Most patients had normal heart rate (92.88%), normal blood pressure (95.14%), and normal ECG (96.67%).Hypotension (2.99%), hypertension and bradycardia (1.87%), and tachycardia (5.25%) were also observed in the patients. There were not any significant relationships between cardiovascular symptoms, ECG changes, and the type of ingested BZD. All patients survived without any complications.Conclusion: Cardiovascular toxicity with BZD alone is not common. Although few changes in cardiovascular or ECG are seen, the prognosis is considered good.

Because of difference in the toxicokinetic and pharmacokinetic characteristics of drugs and with respect to the high rate of Benzodiazepine abuse in suicidal attempts, the trend of possible anterograde amnesia after recovery from Benzodiazepine overdose were evaluated in Iranian patients. This was a prospective descriptive/analytic clinical trial, which was conducted, in Noor general teaching hospital. Patients 18-50 years old, who attempted suicide with long acting Benzodiazepines, were tested for memory at 3 times: immediately after waking up (time 0, t0), 12 (time 12, t12) and 24 hours (time 24, t24) after time 0. Mem-ory was assessed using the Wechsler Memory Scale. The mean of memory score was 44.6±7.1 immedi-ately after waking up (t0). This score was 76.9±3.5 and 93.3±8.18 in t12 and t24 respectively. The differ-ence between the means of memory scores of t0 and t12 was statistically significant and this was the same between t12 and t24. There was a statistically significant relationship between memory score and drug dosage. It is concluded the memory status following waking up in Benzodiazepine overdose is differ-ent in the course of recovery and ascending in an approximately linear way.

Aim and Background: It has been suggested that histamine has modulatory influence on anxiety-related behaviors both in animals and humans. On the other hand, GABA (A) receptor modulating drugs such as Benzodiazepines have been used to treat anxiety disorders. Co-administration of the aforementioned drugs would be of high interest in terms of anxiety effects.Materials and methods: In the present study, we investigated the anxiety-related effects of individual and combined intraperitoneally administration of histamine and diazepam, a Benzodiazepine agent. To do so, anxiolytic indices of Open Arm Times (%OAT) and Open Arm Entries (%OAE) were measured using an elevated plus-maze test of anxiety on rats.Results: Intraperitoneal histamine administration 20 (mg/kg) decreased %OAT, but not locomotor activity, showing an anxiogenic response. Subcutaneous administration of diazepame at dose of 1 mg/kg increased %OAT and %OAE, but not locomotor activity, showing an anxiolytic response. Subcutaneous administration of diazepame, at doses of 1 mg/kg before histamine (20 mg/kg) increased %OAT and %OAE but not locomotor activity, thus showing an anxiolytic response.Conclusion: Our results indicated that the anxiogenic effects induced by histamine in the intraperitoneal could be reversed in the presence of diazepam.

Introduction: Both Benzodiazepines and cardiovascular disease independently increase dementia risk, while anxiety and other psychiatric disorders may exacerbate cardiovascular diseases. Abrupt discontinuation of Benzodiazepines can lead to serious complications, making assessment of Benzodiazepine use and psychiatric comorbidities particularly important in this patient population.Methods: This cross-sectional study was conducted in 2018, among cardiovascular patients referred to the Cardiovascular Ward of Imam Reza Clinic (Shiraz, Iran). Using the cluster sampling method, we collected data on cardiovascular disease type, potential psychiatric comorbidities, and Benzodiazepine use patterns. Results: The study included 513 participants aged 18-80 years (265 men, 51.7%). Ischemic heart disease was the most prevalent cardiovascular condition (n=405, 78.9%). Psychiatric disorders were present in 13.25% (n=68) of participants, with alprazolam being the most commonly used Benzodiazepine. No significant correlations were found between Benzodiazepine use and psychiatric disorders (P=0.814), cigarette smoking (P=0.892), or opioid use (P=0.347).Conclusion: The findings demonstrated a significant prevalence of both Benzodiazepine use and psychiatric disorders (particularly anxiety and depression) among cardiovascular patients, often without appropriate pharmacological treatment. These results underscored the importance of routine screening for psychiatric comorbidities and Benzodiazepine use in all cardiovascular patients, regardless of age or sex.

Background & Objectives: Benzodiazepines (BDZs) can have both beneficial and adverse effects and are the largest-selling drug group in the world. The potential of dependence with BDZ has been known for almost three decades now. The risk of misuse of and dependence on these drugs seems higher in countries where laws against unlicensed sale of BDZ are not implemented strongly. Since there is little know about the pattern of using BDZ in Iran therefore we designed this study to investigate to find out more about the prevalence of BDZ use in psychiatric patients in Mashhad, Iran.Methods: Twenty pharmacies were chosen for this study carried out a cross-sectional survey over 3 months in outpatient of pharmacy in Mashad, Iran. Besides basic socio-demographic data the participants were asked if they were taking a BDZ at present and if yes, the frequency, route and dosage of the drug, who had initiated the drug and why it had been prescribed.Results: Out of a total of 400 participants 17.5% of the participants had been currently using at least one BDZ for 4 weeks or longer. Only 45% of cases the BDZ had been initiated by a doctor. Gender, Educational status, employment status and smoking were associated with an increased likelihood of using BDZ.Conclusion: The study shows most of the users were taking it for duration and with a frequency which puts them at risk of becoming dependent on BDZ. In most of the cases it had not been initiated by a doctor. Both patients and doctors need to be made aware of the risk of dependency associated with the use of BDZ.