1Full Professor, Department of Anatomy, Histology and Forensic Medicine, Division of Forensic Toxicology, University of Florence, Italy,
2Medical Doctor, Department of Anatomy, Histology and Forensic Medicine, Division of Forensic Toxicology, University of Florence, Italy,
3Assistant Professor, Department of Anatomy, Histology and Forensic Medicine, Division of Forensic Toxicology, University of Florence, Italy,
4Researcher, Department of Anatomy, Histology and Forensic Medicine, Division of Forensic Toxicology, University of Florence, Italy,
*Corresponding author: Regina Rensi, Department of Anatomy, Histology and Forensic Medicine, University of Florence, Phone: +39055 415525, Fax: +39 055 7947567. Address: largo Brambilla 3, 50134, Florence, Italy, E-mail: regina.rensi@gmail.com
Online published on 21 February, 2013.
Benzodiazepines are among the most frequently worldwide prescribed antidepressant and antipsychotic drugs because they are considered effective and safe drugs.
Despite of this, acute ingestion of benzodiazepines combined with alcohol is responsible for several toxicological interactions that can have serious outcomes such as the central nervous system depression.
The Authors outline a case report of a 57-year-old woman suffering from depression, found dead in her apartment. The cause of death was attributed to cardio-respiratory arrest due to co-ingestion of massive intake of alprazolam and ketazolam, molecules to benzodiazepines structure and alcohol.
This brief communication has the aim to bring a further contribution to scientific literature about the effects of interaction between alcohol and benzodiazepines.
Benzodiazepines, Alcohol, Poisoning, Depression
