OBJECTIVES: To assess the possible effects of flumazenil on cognitive processing, physiology, and mood. Design A double-blind, placebo controlled, four-way cross-over study, using healthy volunteers. METHODS: On each of 4 separate visits, 16 participants received 0.5 mg, 2.5 mg, 5.0 mg of flumazenil, or normal saline. They then performed a computerised test battery assessing cognitive function. Measures of pulse rate, arterial oxygen saturation and mean arterial pressure were also taken. Finally, participants completed visual analogue scales assessing their subjective mood state. RESULTS: The majority of cognitive tasks showed dose-dependent declines in performance. Mean arterial pressure was significantly reduced, as was pulse rate. Subjective alertness showed a similar decline. CONCLUSIONS:Flumazenil has been clinically described as an agent with few intrinsic properties, whose primary effect lies in its ability to reverse benzodiazepine-induced states. This study has shown that flumazenil does possess intrinsic activity which have a significant effect on cognition, cardiovascular physiology and mood. Clinicians need to be aware of these effects.
RCT Entities:
OBJECTIVES: To assess the possible effects of flumazenil on cognitive processing, physiology, and mood. Design A double-blind, placebo controlled, four-way cross-over study, using healthy volunteers. METHODS: On each of 4 separate visits, 16 participants received 0.5 mg, 2.5 mg, 5.0 mg of flumazenil, or normal saline. They then performed a computerised test battery assessing cognitive function. Measures of pulse rate, arterial oxygen saturation and mean arterial pressure were also taken. Finally, participants completed visual analogue scales assessing their subjective mood state. RESULTS: The majority of cognitive tasks showed dose-dependent declines in performance. Mean arterial pressure was significantly reduced, as was pulse rate. Subjective alertness showed a similar decline. CONCLUSIONS:Flumazenil has been clinically described as an agent with few intrinsic properties, whose primary effect lies in its ability to reverse benzodiazepine-induced states. This study has shown that flumazenil does possess intrinsic activity which have a significant effect on cognition, cardiovascular physiology and mood. Clinicians need to be aware of these effects.
Authors: Olivia A Moody; Sahil Talwar; Meagan A Jenkins; Amanda A Freeman; Lynn Marie Trotti; Paul S García; Donald Bliwise; Joseph W Lynch; Brad Cherson; Eric M Hernandez; Neil Feldman; Prabhjyot Saini; David B Rye; Andrew Jenkins Journal: Ann Neurol Date: 2017-06-01 Impact factor: 10.422