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Previous Issues Volume 8, Issue 3 - 2023
The Use of Benzodiazepines in the Context of Coronavirus Related Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome: A Case Report
Jadison Luiz Barbosa Junior1,*, Paulo Henrique Teixeira Prado2, Thales Pimenta de Figueiredo3, Caio Hage Chahine Kubrusly4, Isabela Maria Seabra Leite5, Luiz Filipe Silva Codorino Couto6, Paulo Marcos Brasil Rocha7
1MD, Hospital das Clínicas da Universidade Federal de Minas Gerais (HC-UFMG), Brazil
2MD, Universidade Federal de Minas Gerais (UFMG), Brazil
3,4,5MD, Hospital das Clínicas da Universidade Federal de Minas Gerais (HC-UFMG), Brazil
6MD, Hospital das Clínicas da Universidade Federal de Minas Gerais (HC-UFMG), Brazil
7MD, PhD, Professor Adjunto, Departamento de Saúde Mental, Universidade Federal de Minas Gerais (UFMG), Brazil
*Corresponding author: Dr. Jadison Luiz Barbosa Junior, MD, Hospital das Clínicas da Universidade Federal de Minas Gerais (HC-UFMG), Avenida Professor Alfredo Balena, 190, sala 267/Belo Horizonte–MG, Postal Code: 30130-100, Tel: +55 0xx 31 99121-2064, Brazil; Email: [email protected].
Received Date: August 26, 2023
Published Date: October 05, 2023
Citation: Jadison LBJ, et al. (2023). The Use of Benzodiazepines in the Context of Coronavirus Related Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome: A Case Report. Mathews J Psychiatry Ment Health. 8(3):42.
Copyrights: Jadison LBJ, et al. © (2023).
ABSTRACT
COVID-19 pandemic increased depression and anxiety worldwide and, although benzodiazepines are effective against acute anxiety, they are known to compromise respiratory physiology. Currently, however, no firm guidelines for benzodiazepine use in people with acute COVID-19 are available and there is sparse medical literature regarding benzodiazepine use in patients with active COVID-19 infection and acute anxiety symptoms. Therefore, we report in this correspondence a remarkable case regarding the parsimonious yet safe use of lorazepam for recurrent panic attacks during the course of active COVID-19 infection with severe acute respiratory syndrome. Benzodiazepines not only ceased panic attacks, but also improved respiratory parameters, as patient became less agitated and stopped manipulating his noninvasive ventilation devices. We further performed a narrative review of the literature, searching for studies regarding benzodiazepine use for acute anxiety in patients with COVID-19.
Keywords: Covid-19, Anxiety, Panic, Benzodiazepine, Respiratory.
