A comparison of flunitrazepam and diazepam in the prevention of local anesthetic-induced convulsions.
The anticonvulsive effects of equivalent strengths (ED50) of flunitrazepam and diazepam were compared in 60 Sabra mice injected i.p. with median convulsive (CD50) doses of lidocaine or bupivacaine. Convulsions occurred in 40% of those pretreated with diazepam but were completely prevented in those injected with flunitrazepam. Mortality was much higher in those mice pretreated with diazepam, three having died after the administration of lidocaine and four after bupivacaine. With flunitrazepam pretreatment, there were no deaths after lidocaine and only one after bupivacaine. Flunitrazepam protected these mice against local anesthetic-induced convulsions more effectively than did diazepam.
D000818:Animals; D014151:Anti-Anxiety Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D002045:Bupivacaine; D003975:Diazepam / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D005260:Female; D005445:Flunitrazepam / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D008012:Lidocaine; D051379:Mice; D012640:Seizures / Q000139:chemically induced / Q000517:prevention & control*
D014151:Anti-Anxiety Agents; D005445:Flunitrazepam; D008012:Lidocaine; D003975:Diazepam; D002045:Bupivacaine