Speech, slurred

Ethanol is classified for medical purposes as a central nervous system (CNS) depressant. Its effects—that is, being drunk—resemble the human response to anesthetics. There is an initial excitability and increase in sociable behavior, but this results from depression of inhibition rather than from stimulation. At a blood alcohol concentration of 0.1% to 0.3%, motor coordination is affected, accompanied by loss of balance, slurred speech, and amnesia. When blood alcohol concentration rises to 0.3% to 0.4%, nausea and loss of consciousness occur. Above 0.6%, spontaneous respiration and cardiovascular regulation are affected, ultimately leading to death. The LD50 of ethanol is 10.6 g/kg (Chapter 1 Focus On). 

Parkin son-I ike symptoms-fine tremors, muscle rigidity, mask-like appearance of the face, slowness of movement, slurred speech, and unsteady gait... 

Dantrolene is the mainstay of MH treatment. It has long been available for the treatment of muscle spasm in cerebral palsy and similar diseases. It is a hydantoin derivative that was first synthesized in 1967, and reported to be effective in the treatment of porcine MH in 1975. Also in 1975, dantrolene was shown to be more effective than procainamide in the treatment of human MH, which until that time was the drug of choice. However, the intravenous preparation was not made available until November 1979. It significantly lowered mortality. The half-life of dantrolene is estimated to be 6-8 hr. Dantrolene s primary mode of action is the reduction in calcium release by the sarcoplasmic reticulum. Dantrolene also exerts a primary antiarrhythmic effect by increasing atrial and ventricular refractory periods. Side effects of dentrolene include hepatotoxicity, muscle weakness, ataxia, blurred vision, slurred speech, nausea, and vomiting. Dantrolene is not contraindicated in pregnancy, but it does cross into breast milk and its effect on the neonate is unknown. 

Barbiturates create a sense of relaxation, reduce tensions, and induce euphoria as measured by standardized scales. Concentration is greatly reduced, as is judgment, and irritability often results. Chronic use slurs speech and leads to incoherence, staggered gait, and tremors. 

Sedated, drowsy, slurred speech, nystagmus, ataxia, positive Romberg test result 500-600 150-200... 

Neurological signs nystagmus, miosis, blurred vision, tremor, slurred speech, dystonia, convulsion, amnesia, confusion, peripheral numbness... 

Clinical signs and symptoms of toxicity are related to the overstimulation of muscarinic, nicotinic, and central nervous system receptors in the nervous system. Muscarinic receptors are those activated by the alkaloid drug muscarine. These receptors are under the control of the parasympathetic nervous system, and their hyperactivity results in respiratory and gastrointestinal dysfunction, incontinence, salivation, bradycardia, miosis, and sweating. Nicotinic receptors are those activated by nicotine. Hyperactivity of these receptors results in muscle fasciculations even greater stimulation results in blockade and muscle paralysis (Lefkowitz et al. 1996 Tafliri and Roberts 1987). Hyperactivity of central nervous system receptors results in the frank neurological signs of confusion, ataxia, dizziness, incoordination, and slurred speech, which are manifestations of acute intoxication. Muscarine and nicotine are not... 

The ammonia produced by enteric bacteria and absorbed into portal venous blood and the ammonia produced by tissues are rapidly removed from circulation by the liver and converted to urea. Only traces (10—20 Ig/dL) thus normally are present in peripheral blood. This is essential, since ammonia is toxic to the central nervous system. Should portal blood bypass the liver, systemic blood ammonia levels may rise to toxic levels. This occurs in severely impaired hepatic function or the development of collateral links between the portal and systemic veins in cirrhosis. Symptoms of ammonia intoxication include tremor, slurred speech, blurred vision, coma, and ultimately death. Ammonia may be toxic to the brain in part because it reacts with a-ketoglutarate to form glutamate. The resulting depleted levels of a-ketoglutarate then impair function of the tricarboxylic acid (TCA) cycle in neurons. 

Euphoria and sedation are the most prominent effects analgesia is also prominent slurred speech, and impaired memory and attention can be seen along with psychomotor retardation... 

Most cases of mild to moderate intoxication with alcohol, as well as cases in which blood alcohol levels (BALs) are at the lower limits of legal intoxication (80 to 100 mg%, 0.08 to 0.1% or 17.4 to 21.7 mmol/L), do not require formal treatment. Such intoxications are characterized by mood lability, loud or inappropriate behavior, slurred speech, incoordination, or unsteady gait. 

HDAC toxicides cerebellar direct neurotoxicity ataxia, slurred speech, nystagmus conjunctivitis (drug is excreted into tears and blocks corneal DNA synthesis)... 

Evident impairement to motor and psychomotor function including slurred speech... 

Lidocaine Dizziness, sedation, slurred speech, blurred vision, paresthesia, muscle twitching, confusion, nausea, vomiting, seizures, psychosis, sinus arrest, aggravation of underlying conduction disturbances... 

Signs and symptoms of alcohol intoxication are slurred speech, ataxia, sedation, nystagmus, unconsciousness, nausea, vomiting, hallucinations, delirium, and seizures. Signs and symptoms of alcohol withdrawal are tachycardia, diaphoresis, and hyperthermia. 

Benzodiazepine (BZ) intoxication is manifested as slurred speech, poor coordination, swaying, drowsiness, hypotension, nystagmus, and confusion. 

Signs and symptoms of PCP intoxication include very unpredictable behavior, increased blood pressure, tachycardia, ataxia, slurred speech, euphoria, agitation, anxiety, hostility, and psychosis. At toxic doses, coma, seizures, and respiratory and cardiac arrest may occur. 

Giddiness, tension, anxiety, jitteriness, restlessness, emotional lability, excessive dreaming, insomnia, nightmares, headaches, tremor, withdrawal and depression, bursts of slow waves of elevated voltage in EEC, especially on over-ventilation, drowsiness, difficult concentration, slowness on recall, confusion, slurred speech, ataxia, generalized weakness, coma, with absence of reflexes, Cheyne-Stokes respirations, convulsions, depression of respiratory and circulatory centers, with dyspnea, cyanosis, and fall in blood pressure. 

Stronger doses of GHB (2 grams or more) start to produce signs of an overdose—such as slurred speech, severe motor impairment, and an overwhelming urge to sleep. In fact, the sleepiness produced by GHB can be so strong that it produces... 

Physical effects of Rohypnol include gastrointestinal disturbances (an upset stomach), slurred speech, decreased blood pressure, muscle relaxation, motor incoordination, and urinary retention (inability to urinate). 

Excess consumption of alcohol is not healthful, as many people will testify. Ethanol is a depressant and can be a mild tranquilizer or a general anesthetic, depending on how much is consumed over what period of time. At low doses, ethanol depresses some of the brain s inhibitory systems and acts as a social lubricant. It can also exacerbate seizure disorders such as epilepsy by depressing the inhibitory systems in the brain that suppress seizures and convulsions. At higher doses, alcohol leads to the classical symptoms of intoxication unsteady walk, slurred speech, altered sensory perception, slow reaction times, bizarre behavior, and finally, loss of consciousness. Consnmption of a fiffh of a gallon of hard liqnor over a short time period can be fatal. 

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