Flumazenil is an injectable medication widely used in the hospital to reverse the effect of benzodiazepines, which are a group of drugs with sedative, hypnotic, anxiolytic, muscle relaxant and anticonvulsant effects.
Thus, flumazenil is widely used after anesthesia to wake patients or in the case of intoxication with excessive use of medications, for example.
This medicine can be found in generic form, but it is also produced by Roche laboratories under the trade name Lanexat. However, it can only be used in hospitals, not being sold in conventional pharmacies.
Other trade names
In addition to Lanexat, flumazenil is also produced by other laboratories and can be sold under other trade names, such as Flumazenil, Flunexil, Lenazen or Flumazil, for example.
How it works
Flumazenil is a substance that binds to benzodiazepine receptors, preventing other drugs, such as sedatives and anxiolytics, from being able to bind. That way, the other drugs stop working, since they need to connect to these receptors to work.
Thus, flumazenil is able to prevent the effect of benzodiazepine drugs without affecting the effect of other drugs that are not in this group.
What is it for
Flumazenil is indicated to interrupt the effect of benzodiazepine drugs in the body, and is therefore widely used to stop the effect of general anesthesia or to treat intoxication caused by high doses of benzodiazepines.
How to use
Flumazenil should only be used by health professionals in the hospital, and the dose should always be indicated by a doctor, according to the problem to be treated and the symptoms presented.
Possible side effects
Some of the most common side effects of flumazenil include nausea, vomiting, palpitations, anxiety and fear.
Who should not use
This remedy is contraindicated for people with allergies to any of the components of the formula or for patients who are undergoing treatment for possibly fatal diseases with benzodiazepines.
