All Emergencies - Basic life support principles:

  1. Maintain an airway
  2. Assess breathing
  3. Monitor circulation
Monitor and record all vital signs.
Overdose: Sedative-Hypnotic Drugs


  1. Recent administration of sedative-hypnotic drug
  2. Level of consciousness is decreased
  3. Respiratory depression
  4. Motor coordination loss

Management of sedative overdose:

  1. Terminate dental treatment.
  2. Position the patient.
  3. A-B-C Airway, Breathing, Circulation - Basic life support.
  4. Definitive Care:
    1. Get medical assistance, if needed.
    2. Administer oxygen
    3. Monitor vital signs
    4. Benzodiazepine overdosage may be reversed by administering flumazenil IV, IM or sub-lingual.
  5. Recovery
    1. If profound with emergency personnel required, transport and stabilization at hospital may be required.
    2. If less severe and managed, procedure may resume.

Source: Sedation, A Guide to Patient Management by Stanley F. Malamed