Aminophylline reversal of flunitrazepam sedation

Seventeen otherwise healthy patients were given either intravenous physiologic saline, 5 ml, or aminophylline, 2 mg/kg, randomly 30 min after they were given intravenous flunitrazepam in doses adequate to produce sleep and sedation during spinal anesthesia for anorectal surgery. In the control group, mean sedation scores were 1.8 +/- 0.3 and 1.0 +/- 0.4 15 and 45 min after injection of placebo. Fifteen and 45 min after the injection of aminophylline the mean scores of sedation were 0.4 +/- 0.2 and 0.2 +/- 0.2, respectively. Even though the patients in both groups appeared to be equally alert and responsive after 75 min, Trieger tests revealed that psychomotor function was still significantly impaired in the control group 90 min after the injection of placebo. The amnesic effects of flunitrazepam were not affected by aminophylline. Aminophylline may be used to reverse the sedative and psychomotor effects of flunitrazepam.