Overdosage

Overdosage of sedative-hypnotic drugs causes severe respiratory and cardiovascular depression; these potentially lethal effects are more likely to occur with alcohols, barbiturates, and carbamates than with benzodiazepines or the newer hypnotics such as zolpidem. Management of intoxication requires maintenance of a patent airway and ventilatory support. Flumazenil may reverse CNS depressant effects of benzodiazepines, eszopiclone, zolpidem, and zaleplon but has no beneficial actions in overdosage with other sedative-hypnotics.