The use of flumazenil in reversing the midazolam and diazepam sedation in outpatients undergoing gastroscopy.

A prospective double blind randomized study was conducted to assess the efficacy and safety of flumazenil in patients for upper gastrointestinal endoscopy, sedated with midazolam or diazepam. Flumazenil significantly reduced the degree of sedation in both treatment groups without significant intergroup differences. There was no evidence of rebound sedation during the observation period of 4 hours. Anterograde amnesia was effectively antagonized in both groups. Flumazenil was a well tolerated safe and effective benzodiazepine antagonist. The combination of benzodiazepine with flumazenil makes it possible to reduce the recovery period and may be useful in outpatients undergoing endoscopy.