[Poisoning with sleep supporting drugs]

Emergencies caused by acute poisoning amount to 3-5% of the actions carried out by the emergency medical service. Sleep supporting drugs have a 35% part in the acute drug-induced poisoning, primarily within the framework of suicidal or parasuicidal actions. In this case, benzodiazepines occupy a top position, followed by H1-antihistaminic agents with strong sedative effects, and the so-called anxiolytic agents of the "second generation". In general, intoxication with sleep supporting drugs lead to disturbances of consciousness with different degrees of seriousness. Careful (external) anamnesis, inspection of the environment and clinical investigations could be helpful to evaluate the diagnosis. Hypoglycemia and neurological illnesses are to be excluded differential diagnostically. Preclinical therapy follows the "five finger rule" (stabilization of the vital functions, detoxification, antidote therapy, asservation, transportation). Specific procedures (preclinical stomach lavage, antidote therapy) are indicated in rare cases, only (mainly mixed intoxication with ethanol). Subsequent therapeutic procedures under clinical conditions are demonstrated using selected examples.