Example/examples of benzodiazepines:

Primary receptor system implicated in the action of benzodiazepines:

Most important ion conductance affected by the state of the GABA receptor system:

Likely to activate GABA Type A receptors while inhibiting the AMPA system:

Most likely to decrease GABA-receptor-mediated synaptic inhibition while inhibiting the NMDA glutamate receptor and potentiating of the action of serotonin:

Benzodiazepine effects if used as preanesthetic medication

Benzodiazepines when used in the endoscopy setting:

More likely to be an effective muscle relaxant:

Reduction of hypoxic respiratory drive: This is a barbiturate effectt that occurs at doses about three times higher than required for pharmacological hypnosis

Relatively safe agent for management of generalized anxiety disorder with limited abuse potential:

Reduction the cerebral edema following surgery; useful in head injury cases and management of cerebral ischemia:

Factor/factors promoting the use of benzodiazepines:

Receptor system which probably mediates the action of buspirone (BuSpar):

More likely to be effective in managing mild anxiety of less likely to be effective in treating panic disorder

Preferable to barbiturates for hypnosis:

Anesthesia implication/implications: chronic ethanol use

Ethanol metabolism:

Initial ethanol metabolic step:

Ethanol pharmacology:

More likely susceptible to acetaminophen (Tylenol, Panadol) toxicity