Oxazepam:
11.1.2Health Hazard
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SYMPTOMS: Symptoms of exposure to this compound include sedation, nausea,
drowsiness, ataxia and coma (from large doses). Other symptoms include
vomiting, lethargy, hyporeflexia, muscular weakness, dysarthria, nystagmus,
hypotension, respiratory failure and death from respiratory or cardiac arrest.
Exposure can cause syncope, liver damage, bone marrow damage and sensitivity
reactions. It can also cause dryness of the mouth, aggressive behavior, blood
dyscrasias and hepatic dysfunction. Sleepiness has been reported. It may cause
lightheadedness, respiratory depression, constipation, changes in salivation,
blurred vision, diplopia, urinary retention, incontinence, mental depression,
tremor, headache, confusion, slurred speech, vertigo, changes in libido, blood
disorders, jaundice, central nervous system depression and, sometimes,
paradoxical reactions such as dysphoria. It may also cause skin rashes
(morbilliform, urticarial and maculopapular), dizziness, stimulation of
affect, leukopenia, severe rage reactions (rare), menstrual irregularities,
change in EEG pattern, agranulocytosis, stupor, disorientation, fever,
euphoria, transient amnesia and memory impairment. Exposure to children has
resulted in somnolence, changes in REM sleep and loss of muscle control
(ataxia). It has also caused lethargy, paradoxical excitation, depressed
reflexes, facial edema, delirium, hallucinations and convulsions.
ACUTE/CHRONIC HAZARDS: When heated to decomposition this compound emits very
toxic fumes of nitrogen oxides and hydrogen chloride. (NTP, 1992)