Naloxone as an antidote for benzodiazepine: an experimental and clinical study

ABSTRACT

This study evaluates the potential antidote action of naloxone on experimentally induced diazepam and flunitrazepam [benzodiazepines] intoxication in dogs. Its antidote effects is also evaluated in a clinical sample of 8 patients suffering from flunitrazepam intoxication. The clinical findings were suggestive of an antagonistic action of naloxone in flunitrazepam intoxication. It was also found that flunitrazepam exhibits a different pharmacological profile from other members of the benzodiazepine group. Our findings of a selective naloxane-flunitrazepam reversal need to be explained in relation to the mechanism of action of this benzodiazepine, as well as to the equated naloxane-opiates reversal