ABSTRACT
This chapter describes trade name, classification, approved indications for psychological disorders, available dosage forms, storage, and compatibility, usual dosage and administration, relative contraindications, and clinically significant drug interactions of flumazenil. The manufacturer recommends that flumazenil be administered intravenously by a physician who has experience in anesthesiology and that patients have an established airway and intravenous access before intravenous flumazenil pharmacotherapy is initiated. Flumazenil pharmacotherapy always should be administered with concurrent emergency symptomatic medical treatment for acute overdosage. Flumazenil is a benzodiazepine antagonist that acts at the benzodiazepine receptors by means of competitive inhibition. The efficacy of flumazenil for reversing the sedation and respiratory depression associated with benzodiazepine overdosage is greatest in relation to sedation but may be limited or incomplete in relation to respiratory depression. Excessive or rapid administration of flumazenil to patients who are addicted to benzodiazepines may induce the benzodiazepine withdrawal syndrome.
