The average age at which people first use tranquillisers is 23.4 years. National Drug Strategy Household Survey, First results, August 1999, Australian Institute of Health and Welfare Canberra. Centre for Behavioural Research in Cancer. Anti-Cancer Council of Victoria, November 1998. Mood swings and aggressive outbursts may also occur.
Symptoms intensify as the dose increases.
Feelings of jitteriness and excitability often become evident as the effects of large doses wear off. Overdose Very high doses of benzodiazepines can cause unconsciousness or coma. Death rarely occurs from overdose of benzodiazepines alone, but some deaths have occurred when large doses were combined with alcohol or other drugs. Deaths have occurred from the inhalation of mucus or vomit when a person has been unconscious. Benzodiazepines can help to relieve anxiety in the short term.