Aminophylline fails to reverse conscious sedation with midazolam in dentistry

A double blind, randomized crossover study investigated whether aminophylline reverses the conscious sedation with midazolam in dentistry to result in quicker clinical recovery than when midazolam is used alone. Twenty-five patients between 17-30 years of age (ASA Grade 1) were sedated with midazolam for bilateral third molar extractions, one side being operated on one visit. Aminophylline or normal saline was given at the end of the surgical procedure on one visit and the alternative during the second visit. No significant difference in recovery was noted with either solution, suggesting that aminophylline does not produce significant reversal of sedation to achieve quicker clinical recovery. The majority of patients preferred to be alert following the operation while some (N = 5) wished to be drowsy, indicating the necessity to question the patient as to preference before deciding to administer a reversal agent.