Flumazenil in the outpatient. A study following midazolam as sedation for upper gastrointestinal endoscopy

Fifty outpatients who underwent upper gastrointestinal endoscopy under midazolam sedation were allocated randomly into two equal groups of 25 in this double-blind study. After the endoscopy, and 30 minutes after administration of the sedative, patients in one group received flumazenil 0.5 mg; those in the other group received a similar volume of vehicle only. Assessments of memory function, psychomotor performance and coordination were carried out and these were repeated 3.5 hours later. Flumazenil produced a significant improvement (p less than 0.001) immediately but no difference could be detected between flumazenil and placebo at 3.5 hours. However, patients in the flumazenil group reported, by means of linear analogue scales, a subjective feeling of alertness at the time of discharge, which was greater than that reported by those in the placebo group (p less than 0.005).