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Table 5-2

Pharmacologic Effects of Benzodiazepine

Anxiolysis
SedationTreat acute insomnia
Anticonvulsant actions
Spinal cord-mediated muscle relaxation

  • Not adequate for surgical procedures

  • No influence on required dose of neuromuscular blocking drugs

Anterograde amnesia (acquisition or encoding of new information)

  • Amnestic potency is greater than sedative effect.

  • Stored information (retrograde amnesia is not altered)

Low tendency to produce tolerance, abuse, or addiction