Annals of emergency medicine
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Randomized Controlled Trial Multicenter Study Clinical Trial
A clinical trial of escalating doses of flumazenil for reversal of suspected benzodiazepine overdose in the emergency department.
To determine if flumazenil, when used in doses higher than those currently recommended, could reverse the effects of a benzodiazepine (BDZ) overdose in patients who might not otherwise respond and whether the higher dose was associated with increased adverse effects. ⋯ Flumazenil rapidly and effectively reverses the clinical signs and symptoms of a BDZ overdose. Most patients will respond to 3 mg or less, but a small number may require a higher dose for reversal of clinical symptoms. Patients with concomitant tricyclic antidepressant overdose may be at risk for developing seizures.