Benzodiazepines are neuromodulatory drugs that potentiate GABA-mediated conductance increases. We report the findings of an investigation into the effect of a full benzodiazepine-positive modulator (agonist), chlordiazepoxide (CDPX), on desensitization of the GABA response in chick spinal cord neurons maintained in primary monolayer cell culture. GABA application initially increases cell conduc...

OBJECTIVE This study examined the risk of accidental events in older adults prescribed a sedating antidepressant, long-acting benzodiazepine, short-acting benzodiazepine, and nonbenzodiazepine, relative to a reference group (selective melatonin receptor agonist). METHODS This was a retrospective cohort analysis of older adults (≥65 years) with newly initiated pharmacological treatment of inso...

Prolonged benzodiazepine use is a widespread phenomenon in medical practice. In the present article, we argue that psychological models may contribute to our understanding of benzodiazepine use. This study examined variables derived from the theory of planned behaviour and the health belief model in relation to the length of benzodiazepine use. Data were collected from a sample of all benzodiaz...

Midazolam is a water soluble 1,4 benzodiazepine which is suitable for intramuscular administration. It is currently used for pre-medication and the induction of anaesthesia. Its antiepileptic properties have been evaluated by studying its effect on interictal spikes on the EEG of six adult epileptic patients. The results indicate that intramuscular midazolam 15 mg is more effective than intramu...

BACKGROUND It remains unclear whether benzodiazepine use increases hip fracture incidence. We studied this relationship in a large cohort, controlling for multiple potential confounders. METHODS We analyzed 42 months of New Jersey Medicaid health care claims data for all enrollees. Each eligible person-day was assigned to categories of benzodiazepine exposure and categories of other predictor...

OBJECTIVE In Lebanon, benzodiazepines are often available without medical prescription. We aimed to carry out the first community-based pharmaco-epidemiological study on benzodiazepine consumption in the Middle East Area. METHOD The prevalence of past-month benzodiazepine use was assessed in a 1000-subject randomized sample from the Lebanese community, and risk factors were studied in a group...

Intracisternally administered cholecystokinin produced long lasting hypothermia in mice, and the hypothermic effect was significantly antagonized by benzodiazepines like chlordiazepoxide and diazepam and by a benzodiazepine antagonist, Ro 15-1788, that were administered intraperitoneally. Proglumide, a cholecystokinin antagonist, failed to prevent the hypothermia induced by cholecystokinin at a...

There is compelling evidence to support the quality, cost effectiveness and safety profile of non-anesthesiologist-administered propofol for endoscopic ultrasound (EUS). However in the United Kingdom, it is recommended that the administration and monitoring of propofol sedation for endoscopic procedures should be the responsibility of a dedicated and appropriately trained anaesthetist only. The...

Monoclonal antibodies to a purified benzodiazepine/GABAA receptor complex from bovine cerebral cortex were used to determine the localization of this receptor in immunohistochemical preparations of the human hippocampal formation. The regional localization of the receptor was compared with the autoradiographic distribution of binding sites for a benzodiazepine antagonist, Ro 15-1788, and very s...

Gastric lavage is a routine procedure done in many cases of poisoning and it has been advocated by many as a lifesaving procedure. There may be some instances, where it might be unnecessary, ineffective or even detrimental to life. A 35 year old man walked into a casualty, 2 hours after having ingested 15 benzodiazepine tablets. Lavage was done by an unqualified person using Ewald's tube, leadi...