[Diazepam-induced disinhibition]
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Updated: Nov 8, 2026

Behavioral Characterization of Pentylenetetrazole-induced Seizures: Moving Beyond the Racine Scale
Published on: July 8, 2025
1Dept. of Psychiatry, Hadassah-University Hospital, Jerusalem.
Abstract:
Benzodiazepines are among the most often prescribed drugs worldwide, and are mostly prescribed by general practitioners and family physicians. Their side-effects include tolerance, dependence, intoxication, withdrawal syndrome, retrograde amnesia, paradoxical agitation (frequent in the elderly) and disinhibition. A 32-year-old woman is presented. She was brought to the emergency room because of psychotic-like behavior. It was caused by severe disinhibition due to a single 5 mg dose of diazepam prescribed during uncomplicated bereavement. 14 hours later all symptoms had subsided and she was discharged.
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