Benzodiazepines and its Adverse Effects

Benzodiazepines Case Study
Benzodiazepines are a wide range of drugs that function via the GABA increased transmission (American Addiction Centers, 2020). Benzodiazepines have various uses in the medical department, including procedural sedation (Ait-Daoud et al., 2018). Sedation can be defined as the patient's awareness of depression regarding the surroundings and reducing their responsiveness to any external provocation. This can be achieved through a sedation levels continuum. There are safety concerns for Daria, an alcoholic patient sedated with benzodiazepines to undergo a dental procedure. One of the problems is that Daria may consume alcohol while still under the prescription of benzodiazepine. Benzodiazepine can be very harmful if consumed in combination with alcohol. Another safety concern is that if the drug dosage is excessive, the patient may be at risk of developing respiratory arrest and respiratory depression, among other possible conditions. If given in small amounts, the benzodiazepine may reduce the developing dependence risk (American Addiction Centers, 2020). Benzodiazepine binding brings about the influx of chloride ions, causing cell hyperpolarization. This is also a safety concern for Daria. It may have major physiological impacts on a neuron's particular region presynaptic membranes. Hyperpolarization can be defined as a cell's membrane alteration affecting its potential by making it extremely negative.
There are several adverse effects linked to the use of benzodiazepines that may be observed in Daria's situation. In most cases, the adverse effects involve central nervous system effects, including lethargy, vertigo or dizziness, cognitive impairment, nervousness, drowsiness, headache, confusion, and increased anxiety (Ait-Daoud et al., 2018). When combined with alcohol, the effects may be fatal such as extreme drowsiness or sedation, slurred speech, muscle control loss, decreased breathing rate, and coma (Tori et al., 2020). Daria should ensure she follows the doctor's instructions and prescriptions to the latter to avoid any of these adverse effects that may lead to a worsened situation.
Suppose Daria does not show up at work the next morning. In that case, several priority actions should be taken to confirm her well-being and that nothing terrible has happened to her concerning the drugs administered at the hospital. The priority action should be contacting her to see if she responds and her whereabouts. If Daria is not reached, then her parents should be contacted to confirm if she might have contacted them or visited them to recuperate from there. Another priority action that may be taken is calling 911 and requesting the sheriff's office to check Daria's welfare. Someone may also go to Daria's home and confirm whether she is there and safe and sound. The hospital may also be called to verify if she is still there or was discharged to go home.
Patient teaching is important when it comes to promoting a patient's well-being. This means that the medical practitioners are...