Flumazenil in reversal of the central effects of midazolam used as induction agent in general anesthesia.

Flumazenil (Anexate), a new benzodiazepine antagonist, was administered in doses of 0.2-0.4 mg to 40 patients for reversing the sedative effects of midazolam used as the sole induction agent in doses of 0.15-0.25 mg x kg-1 for short operations with a mean duration of 35 +/- 10 min. Five min after flumazenil was given, 33 patients (82.5%) were fully conscious, while 38 patients (95%) were able to converse 30 min after administration. Flumazenil was very well tolerated in almost all cases, the only side effects being mild confusion in 3 patients and nausea in 3 other cases.