Summary

Commonly reported side effects of flumazenil include: dizziness, nausea, and vomiting. Other side effects include: headache, agitation, depersonalization, depression, dysphoria, dyspnea, euphoria, hyperventilation, insomnia, nervousness, palpitations, paranoid ideation, paresthesia, tremor, uncontrolled crying, visual disturbance, diaphoresis, pain at injection site, and xerostomia. Continue reading for a comprehensive list of adverse effects.

Applies to flumazenil: parenteral injection.

Side effects include:

Dizziness, injection site pain, increased sweating, headache, and abnormal or blurred vision.

For Healthcare Professionals

Applies to flumazenil: intravenous solution.

Nervous system

Very common (10% or more): Dizziness (vertigo, ataxia) (10%)

Common (1% to 10%): Headache, paresthesia (sensation abnormal, hypoesthesia)

Frequency not reported: Convulsions, somnolence, speech disorder (dysphonia, thick tongue)^[Ref]

Convulsions have occurred in patients with severe hepatic impairment, inpatients relying on benzodiazepine effects to control seizures, patients physically dependent on benzodiazepines, and those who have ingested large doses of other drugs (mixed-drug overdose).^[Ref]

Psychiatric

Common (1% to 10%): Agitation (anxiety, nervousness, dry mouth, tremor, palpitations, insomnia, dyspnea, hyperventilation), emotional lability (crying abnormal, depersonalization, euphoria, increased tears, depression, dysphoria, paranoia)

Frequency not reported: Confusion (difficulty concentrating, delirium)

Postmarketing reports: Fear, panic attacks in patients with a history of panic disorders^[Ref]

Cardiovascular

Common (1% to 10%): Cutaneous vasodilation (sweating, flushing, hot flushes)

Uncommon (0.1% to 1%): Cardiac dysrhythmias (ventricular tachycardia, junctional tachycardia)

Frequency not reported: Arrhythmia (atrial, nodal, ventricular extrasystoles), bradycardia, tachycardia, hypertension, chest pain^[Ref]

Other

The majority of deaths occurred in patients with serious underlying disease or in patients who had injects large amounts of non-benzodiazepine drugs (usually cyclic antidepressants) as part of an overdose.

Withdrawal symptoms may occur after rapid injection of flumazenil in patients with long term exposure to benzodiazepines.^[Ref]

Common (1% to 10%): Fatigue (asthenia, malaise)

Frequency not reported: Death, abnormal hearing (transient hearing impairment, hyperacusis, tinnitus), rigors, shivering

Postmarketing reports: Withdrawal symptoms^[Ref]

Local

Common (1% to 10%): Injection site pain, injection site reaction (thrombophlebitis, skin abnormality, rash)^[Ref]

Ocular

Common (1% to 10%): Abnormal vision (visual field defect, diplopia)^[Ref]

Respiratory

Frequency not reported: Hiccup^[Ref]