Related Experiment Video
Updated: Jun 14, 2026

Color Spot Test As a Presumptive Tool for the Rapid Detection of Synthetic Cathinones
Published on: February 5, 2018
Two cases of estazolam poisoning presenting to an emergency department in Western Australia
Ellie M Kotkis1, Ben C Weber2, Arthur Teo2
1Centre for Clinical Research in Emergency Medicine, Harry Perkins Institute of Medical Research, Perth, Western Australia, Australia.
Introduction:
Estazolam is a triazolo-benzodiazepine not registered for therapeutic use in Australia. We describe the clinical features of two patients presenting to an Emergency Department in Western Australia with confirmed estazolam poisoning.
Methods:
De-identified demographic, clinical, toxicology and outcome data were extracted from the Emerging Drugs Network of Australia clinical registry for cases with confirmed estazolam toxicity between October 2022 and August 2023.
Cases:
Two elderly patients, both non-English-speaking, presented with profound sedation following estazolam exposure, consistent with estazolam's elimination half-life of 19 h. Case 1: A 64-year-old male was found obtunded at home and was initially treated for encephalitis and admitted to the intensive care unit. Subsequently, the history was obtained that empty boxes of estazolam had been found at the patient's home, reportedly purchased online. Toxicological analysis detected estazolam and alprazolam. Case 2: A 90-year-old female presented after ingesting 130 estazolam tablets in a reported suicide attempt. Clinical management included flumazenil infusion and intensive care support. Toxicological analysis confirmed the presence of estazolam.
Discussion:
Toxicological analysis provided critical diagnostic confirmation within 48 h, directly informing treatment decisions and preventing unnecessary diagnostic procedures.
Conclusions:
Two patients poisoned with estazolam experienced prolonged sedation. Toxicological analysis within a clinically relevant timeframe informed management.
More Related Videos
10:17High-throughput and Comprehensive Drug Surveillance Using Multisegment Injection-Capillary Electrophoresis-Mass Spectrometry
Published on: April 23, 2019
05:15Amplitude-Integrated EEG in Infants at Risk of Hypoxic-Ischemic Encephalopathy: A Feasibility Study in Road and Air Transport in Western Australia
Published on: June 21, 2024
Related Concept Videos
Anticholinesterase Agents: Poisoning and Treatment
Irreversible agents form a strong bond with the cholinesterase enzyme, making it inactive. The breakdown of the phosphorylated enzyme is slower than the...
Toxidromes: Clinical Features
Pharmaceutical Poisoning: Potential Scenarios
Pharmaceutical Poisoning: Treatment Strategies
Pulmonary Embolism I: Introduction
Pulmonary Embolism II: Diagnostic Studies and Interprofessional Care