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Diseases » Clonazepam toxicity » Treatments

Treatments for Clonazepam toxicity

Contents

Clonazepam toxicity: Research Doctors & Specialists

Poisoning / Toxicology Specialists:
- Medical Toxicology (Poisoning Specialists)
- Pediatric Medical Toxicology (Child Poisoning)
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Book Excerpts: Treatment of Clonazepam toxicity

Treatment - Drug abuse and dependence

Treatments of Clonazepam toxicity: Online Medical Books

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Drug abuse and dependence: Treatment
(Handbook of Diseases)

The patient may first need treatment for drug intoxication, followed by long-term therapy to combat drug dependence.

Drug intoxication

The patient with acute drug intoxication should receive symptomatic treatment based on the drug ingested. Measures include fluid replacement therapy and nutritional and vitamin supplements, if indicated, and detoxification with the same drug or a pharmacologically similar drug. (Exceptions include cocaine, hallucinogens, and marijuana, which aren’t used for detoxification.)

Medications include sedatives to induce sleep; anticholinergics and anti-diarrheals to relieve GI distress; anti-anxiety drugs for severe agitation, especially in cocaine abusers; and symptomatic treatment of complications.

Depending on the dosage and time elapsed before admission, additional treatments may include gastric lavage, induced vomiting, activated charcoal, forced diuresis and, possibly, hemoperfusion or hemodialysis.

Drug dependence

Treatment of drug dependence commonly involves a triad of care: detoxification, short- and long-term rehabilitation, and aftercare. The latter means a lifetime of abstinence, usually aided by participation in Narcotics Anonymous or a similar self-help group.

Detoxification, the controlled and gradual withdrawal of an abused drug, is achieved through substitution of a drug with similar action, which is then gradually decreased. Such gradual replacement of the abused drug controls the effects of withdrawal, thereby reducing the patient’s discomfort and associated risks.

Depending on which drug the patient has abused, detoxification may be managed on an inpatient or outpatient basis. For example, withdrawal from CNS depressants can produce hazardous adverse reactions, such as generalized tonic-clonic seizures, status epilepticus, and hypotension.

The severity of these reactions determines whether the patient can be safely treated as an outpatient or requires hospitalization. Withdrawal from CNS depressants usually doesn’t require detoxification.

Opioid withdrawal causes severe physical discomfort and can even be life-threatening. To minimize these effects, chronic opioid abusers commonly are detoxified with methadone.

To ease withdrawal from opioids, depressants, and other drugs, useful nonchemical measures may include psychotherapy, exercise, relaxation techniques, and nutritional support. Sedatives and tranquilizers may be administered temporarily to help the patient cope with insomnia, anxiety, and depression.

After withdrawal, the patient needs to participate in a rehabilitation program to prevent a recurrence of drug abuse. Rehabilitation programs are available for both inpatients and outpatients; they usually last a month or longer and may include individual, group, and family psychotherapy. During and after rehabilitation, participation in a drug-oriented self-help group may be beneficial. The largest such group is Narcotics Anonymous.

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Source: Handbook of Diseases, 2003