Benzodiazepines Poisoning

Benzodiazepines enhance GABA-A–mediated inhibition, producing CNS depression, drowsiness, ataxia and impaired consciousness. The hippocampus, a key centre for memory consolidation, is particularly relevant to their characteristic anterograde amnesia, in which formation of new memories is impaired. In severe overdose—especially with opioids, alcohol or other CNS depressants—respiratory depression and hypoxia may lead to toxic–hypoxic brain injury. Bilateral hippocampal diffusion abnormalities have been reported in polysubstance overdose, but are not a characteristic lesion of benzodiazepines alone.