Benzodiazepines are contraindicated in which condition?

• A. Asthma
• B. Narrow-angle glaucoma
• C. Hypertension
• D. Hyperthyroidism

Answer: (B)

In narrow-angle glaucoma, any drug that can dilate the pupil or otherwise narrow the drainage angle can precipitate an acute attack by trapping and blocking outflow, leading to a rapid rise in intraocular pressure. Benzodiazepines are listed as contraindicated in this condition because they can cause pupil dilation in some patients, which risks closing the angle further. The other conditions listed—asthma, hypertension, and hyperthyroidism—do not involve an acute risk from benzodiazepine-induced changes in the eye, so they are not contraindications. Hence, the condition described in the question is the reason this drug class is avoided.