The stability of flumazenil in infusion solution

Flumazenil, the first benzodiazepine antagonist to be marketed, is available only for intravenous injection (0.1 mg/ml). The half-life of the compound in plasma is short compared with that of the conventional benzodiazepines, and administration of the drug as a continuous infusion is therefore frequently required. However, the stability of flumazenil in infusion solution has not previously been known, which has meant that controlled studies of the drug in this administration form have been difficult to perform. In the present study, infusion solutions of flumazenil in concentrations of 1.0 and 5.0 micrograms/ml were produced and stored for periods of up to 9 months. The concentrations of the drug in the different solutions were determined by gas chromatography at defined intervals, and were found not to change during the study period. We conclude that the stability of flumazenil in infusion solution is satisfactory.