Flunitrazepam as an induction agent in elderly, poor-risk patients.
Great interindividual variation was found in response to flunitrazepam when the latter was used as an induction agent for general anaesthesia in elderly, poor-risk patients. However, no significant changes in the pharmacokinetics of this nitrobenzodiazepine derivative were found, which suggests that there are pharmacodynamic alterations in response to the drug with advancing age. A sudden but transient drop in blood pressure was found in three out of 12 patients, even although flunitrazepam was given, i.v., in low 0.3-0.5 mg incremental doses. A marked amnesic effect was found. No analgesics were needed in the recovery room (2 h), supporting the evidence that flunitrazepam has an analgesic-sparing effect. Flunitrazepam resulted, in general, in smooth induction of anaesthesia, but a long time was needed for induction.
D000367:Age Factors; D000368:Aged; D000768:Anesthesia, General / Q000379:methods*; D014151:Anti-Anxiety Agents / Q000378:metabolism*; D005260:Female; D005445:Flunitrazepam / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000378:metabolism*; D006801:Humans; D007206:Individuality; D007700:Kinetics; D008297:Male; D012306:Risk; D013997:Time Factors
D014151:Anti-Anxiety Agents; D005445:Flunitrazepam