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