[Acute overdosage with benzodiazepine derivatives (author's transl)]

The study of 210 cases of voluntary intoxications by benzodiazepines alone, out of a total of 2080 intoxicated patients admitted at the Hospital of Tours, shows that when no other drugs is associated the prognosis is good, both for children and for adults. The association with ethanol does not change the prognosis. The clinical symptoms alone cannot prove the nature of the gravity of the intoxications. After having analysed the drugs present in the gastric juice, and after having checked that only benzodiazepines are implied, the patient can usually be taken care of on a non specialized ward.