Search 33,000+ CME courses
Back

StatPearls, LLC

  • Analgesics, Opioid
  • Anti-Anxiety Agents
  • Coma
  • Hypnotics and Sedatives
  • Respiratory Insufficiency

Anxiolytics and Sedative-Hypnotics Toxicity

Anxiolytic and sedative-hypnotic toxicity is a significant cause of morbidity and mortality. Common agents include sedating medications, such as benzodiazepines, opioids, barbiturates, antidepressants, and antihistamines. Major risk factors include misuse, overdose, polypharmacy, coingestion with central nervous system depressants like alcohol, advanced age, and underlying medical comorbidities. Clinical manifestations range from sedation and respiratory depression to coma and cardiovascular instability. Diagnosis is primarily clinical, supported by history and toxicologic testing. Management emphasizes airway protection, respiratory and hemodynamic support, and selective antidote use. Potential complications include respiratory depression, cardiac conduction abnormalities, serotonin syndrome, aspiration, hypoxic injury, and death. This activity reviews the pathophysiology, clinical presentation, diagnostic evaluation, and evidence-based management of anxiolytic and sedative toxicity, including recognition of characteristic toxidromes and life-threatening complications. Participants will strengthen their ability to identify toxic exposures, stabilize patients, interpret diagnostic findings, implement appropriate treatment strategies, and coordinate interprofessional care to improve patient safety and clinical outcomes.

Credit & MOC Details

Credit information is provided by the course provider. We recommend confirming credit eligibility with the provider or your licensing board before starting the activity.

Credit types

IPCE CreditsUp to 1.5 creditsAAPA Category 1 Credit™Up to 1.5 creditsAMA PRA Category 1 Credit™Up to 1.5 creditsNursingUp to 1.5 creditsPharmacyUp to 1.5 credits

MOC types

ABS — Accredited CMEUp to 1.5 pointsABPM — Accredited CMEUp to 1.5 pointsABPATH — Lifelong LearningUp to 1.5 pointsABA — Lifelong LearningUp to 1.5 pointsABTS — Accredited CMEUp to 1.5 pointsABIM — Medical KnowledgeUp to 1.5 pointsABS — Self-AssessmentUp to 1.5 pointsABP — Lifelong Learning and Self-AssessmentUp to 1.5 pointsABPM — Self-AssessmentUp to 1.5 pointsABTS — Self-AssessmentUp to 1.5 points

FDA REMS

No

Qualifies for MIPS

No

Target Specialties

Cross-Specialty

Relevant across 11 specialties.

Pricing

Fee varies

This provider typically $49–98

See fees on statpearls.com

Listed by the provider

  • Article / monograph / reference
  • Credit · Up to 1.5 credits
  • MOC · Up to 1.5 points
  • Fee varies · this provider typically $49–98
  • Released
    Sep 1, 2026
  • Last day to claim credit
    Sep 1, 2029 3 years left

Related courses

See all

Other providers’ courses on the same topic

More from StatPearls, LLC

See all

This provider’s courses closest to this one