LACK OF EFFECT OF THE BENZODIAZEPINE ANTAGONIST FLUMAZENIL

Flumazenil is a specific benzodiazepine antagonist. This study was designed to determine whether it also reverses CNS depression due to acute alcohol intoxication. Intoxication was induced in 6 healthy volunteers by intravenous infusion of ethanol. Two doses of flumazenil and placebo were administered. A battery of psychometric tests and subjective ratings of mood and performance were performed at baseline and at regular intervals during the study. Before the administration of the flumazenil the characteristic symptoms and signs of ethanol intoxication were present in all subjects. Performance, reaction time, digit symbol substitution test, and a tracing test were markedly impaired by ethanol. After the injection of flumazenil 3 volunteers reported some subjective improvement in performance. However, in none of the subjects was there a difference between either dose of flumazenil and placebo in terms of an improvement in the objective psychometric variables.

• Availability:
  • Find a library where document is available. Order URL: http://worldcat.org/issn/00316970
• Corporate Authors:

  Springer Verlag

  175 5th Avenue
  New York, NY  United States  10010
• Authors:
  • Flueckiger, A
  • Hartmann, D
  • Leishman, B
  • Ziegler, W H
• Publication Date: 1988

Media Info

• Pagination: p. 273-276
• Serial:
  • European Journal of Clinical Pharmacology
  • Volume: 34
  • Issue Number: 3
  • Publisher: Springer Verlag
  • ISSN: 0031-6970

Subject/Index Terms

• TRT Terms: Alcoholic beverages; Countermeasures; Intoxication; Motor skills; Reaction time; Visual perception
• Uncontrolled Terms: Psychomotor performance
• Subject Areas: Highways; Safety and Human Factors; I83: Accidents and the Human Factor;

Filing Info

• Accession Number: 00489413
• Record Type: Publication
• Files: TRIS
• Created Date: Nov 30 1989 12:00AM