Anikwe Uchenna , Chukwudozie Izuchukwu Christopher, Chibuike K Uwakwe, Okenwa Ezinne Jennifer ,Oparaji Emeka H
The present study is designed to monitor the anxiolytic effects of diazepam (benzodiazepines) and its association with changes of serum electrolyte balance among forty (40) selected women within menopausal cycle. The experiment was carried out for four weeks and drug administrations were done orally. Serum electrolyte (sodium (Na+), potassium (K +), chloride ion (Cl-) and Bicarbonate (CO3) concentrations (mg/ml) experimented in the reproductive women showed differential changes in all the tested women orally administered with diazepams when compared with the control experiment (women not administered with the anxiolytic drug) during the four weeks of experiment. Na+ and K+ showed a concentration of 144 mg/ml and 4.1 mg/ml after seven days (week 1) of administrations and progressively decreases to 142.5 mg/ml and 4.1 mg/ml after 14 days (week 2) of administrations respectively. The concentration of Na+ increased slightly to 143.4 mg/ml while K+ maintained its initial concentration of 4.42 mg/ml after 28 days of administrations respectively. Cl- and Bicarbonate (CO3) ions showed a progressive increase in concentrations from day 7 to day 28 post administrations respectively. In all, serum electrolytes (sodium (Na+), potassium (K+) and chloride ion (Cl-) showed slight increase in concentration when compared with the control experiment while Bicarbonate (CO3) showed a non-significant reduction (P>0.05) in concentration when compared with the control experiment. Electrolytes are charged fluids present in the human body, and the balance of the electrolytes in our bodies is essential for normal function of our cells and our organs. Changes of electrolytes (fluid ions) are associated with stress-induced hypertension. Therefore it may be expected that diazepam and other anxiolytics elicit anxiolyte effects and decrease Systolic Blood Pressure (SBP) by changing electrolyte balance of the body system.