Flumazenil

Generic name: Flumazenil
Brand names: Romazicon
Dosage form: intravenous solution (0.1 mg/mL)
Drug class: Antidotes

Usage of Flumazenil

Flumazenil is used to reverse the effects of a benzodiazepine (BENZ-oh-dye-AYZ-e-peen) sedative such as Valium, Versed, Xanax, Tranxene, and others.

Flumazenil is used to help you wake up after a surgery or medical procedure in which a benzodiazepine was used as a sedative.

Flumazenil is also used to treat benzodiazepine overdose in adults.

Flumazenil may also be used for purposes not listed in this medication guide.

Flumazenil side effects

Get emergency medical help if you have signs of an allergic reaction: hives; difficulty breathing; swelling of your face, lips, tongue, or throat.

Tell your caregiver right away if you have:

weak or shallow breathing;

ongoing drowsiness;

confusion, agitation, tremors, dizziness;

chest pain and severe dizziness, rapid pulse, fast or pounding heartbeats; or

a light-headed feeling, like you might pass out.

Common side effects of flumazenil may include:

headache, dizziness;

nausea, vomiting;

increased sweating;

flushing (sudden warmth, redness, or tingly feeling);

vision problems; or

pain where the medicine was injected.

This is not a complete list of side effects and others may occur. Call your doctor for medical advice about side effects. You may report side effects to FDA at 1-800-FDA-1088.

Before taking Flumazenil

Flumazenil may cause seizures. especially:

in people withdrawing from sedative addiction;

in people who have recently taken an antidepressant overdose;

in people who have recently received injectable benzodiazepines; or

in people who had seizure-like symptoms just before receiving flumazenil.

Talk to your doctor if you have concerns about the risk of seizure.

You should not receive flumazenil if you are allergic to flumazenil or any type of benzodiazepine sedative, or if you have taken an overdose of certain antidepressant medication.

Tell your doctor if you have ever had:

epilepsy or other seizure disorder (especially if you take a benzodiazepine to treat seizures);

a head injury;

any type of breathing problem or lung disease;

liver disease;

panic or anxiety disorder;

alcoholism or drug addiction; or

if you have been using benzodiazepine long-term.

Tell your doctor if you are pregnant or breastfeeding.

Relate drugs

How to use Flumazenil

Flumazenil is given as an infusion into a vein. A healthcare provider will give you this injection.

Tell your caregivers if you feel any burning, pain, or swelling around the IV needle when flumazenil is injected.

Your breathing, blood pressure, oxygen levels, and other vital signs will be watched closely after you receive flumazenil.

You may have temporary amnesia while you are waking up from sedation. You may not remember everything going on around you for up to 2 hours.

Warnings

Flumazenil may cause seizures, especially in people who have sedative-addiction withdrawal symptoms or recent antidepressant overdose, people who have recently received injectable benzodiazepines, or people who had symptoms of a seizure just before receiving flumazenil. Talk to your doctor if you have concerns about the risk of seizure.

What other drugs will affect Flumazenil

Receiving flumazenil after taking large doses of certain antidepressants can cause dangerous or life-threatening side effects. Tell your doctor before you receive flumazenil if you have recently taken an antidepressant such as amitriptyline, doxepin, clomipramine, desipramine, imipramine, or nortriptyline.

Other drugs may affect flumazenil, including prescription and over-the-counter medicines, vitamins, and herbal products. Tell your doctor about all your current medicines and any medicine you start or stop using.

Disclaimer

Every effort has been made to ensure that the information provided by Drugslib.com is accurate, up-to-date, and complete, but no guarantee is made to that effect. Drug information contained herein may be time sensitive. Drugslib.com information has been compiled for use by healthcare practitioners and consumers in the United States and therefore Drugslib.com does not warrant that uses outside of the United States are appropriate, unless specifically indicated otherwise. Drugslib.com's drug information does not endorse drugs, diagnose patients or recommend therapy. Drugslib.com's drug information is an informational resource designed to assist licensed healthcare practitioners in caring for their patients and/or to serve consumers viewing this service as a supplement to, and not a substitute for, the expertise, skill, knowledge and judgment of healthcare practitioners.

The absence of a warning for a given drug or drug combination in no way should be construed to indicate that the drug or drug combination is safe, effective or appropriate for any given patient. Drugslib.com does not assume any responsibility for any aspect of healthcare administered with the aid of information Drugslib.com provides. The information contained herein is not intended to cover all possible uses, directions, precautions, warnings, drug interactions, allergic reactions, or adverse effects. If you have questions about the drugs you are taking, check with your doctor, nurse or pharmacist.