Low dose aminophylline accelerates recovery from diazepam premedication for digestive endoscopy

The value of intravenous aminophylline in accelerating recovery from premedication with diazepam was assessed against placebo in a randomized, double-blind trial. One hundred ten patients undergoing routine diagnostic upper gastrointestinal endoscopy received diazepam intravenously in a dosage sufficient to achieve adequate sedation. On completion of the endoscopy, patients received either aminophylline (1.5 mg/kg) or placebo. Recovery from sedation was assessed on clinical grounds by a nurse, objectively using a serial reaction time test, and by the patient on a visual analogue scale. The number of patients judged to be fully alert at 30 and 60 min after the procedure was significantly greater in the aminophylline group than in the placebo group. Compared with values obtained before sedation, the placebo group had significantly prolonged reaction times 30 min after completion of the endoscopy, whereas patients who received aminophylline did not. However, according to their self-assessments, patients in both groups felt more uncoordinated following sedation. Aminophylline appears to hasten recovery from sedation with diazepam, and its use may permit earlier mobilization of patients after endoscopy.