To evaluate the efficacy and safety of flumazenil in the diagnosis and treatment of coma patients with suspected drug
intoxication.
A total of 31 unconscious patients were included. Intravenous bolus injections of 0.2 mg flumazenil were given followed by 0. 1 mg doses every minute until a total dose of lmg was reached or produced a 2 grades improvement in sedation level grades.The patients were divided into two groups based on their response to flumazenil: groupA, responders (n=23); groupB, nonresponders (n=8). A good response in group A allowed us to retrieve drug information from these patients once mental status had returned to normal: they all admitted taking
benzodiazepines. All patients were discharged within 24hrs except 6 who needed further treatment for pneumonia. In group B only two blood samples of the & patients who didn't respond to flumazenil treatment contained benzodiazepines; the remaining six were negative. No adverse reactions were observed in any patients who received flumazenil. These results indicate that flumazenil is safe and effective in the diagnosis and treatment of drug
intoxication induced coma.