Oral flunitrazepam in the prevention of local anaesthetic-induced convulsions in mice

The present study determined whether oral flunitrazepam was effective reducing CNS toxicity of lidocaine and bupivacaine. Pretreatment of mice with flunitrazepam, 0.065-0.25 mg.kg^-1, significantly reduced or prevented convulsions and mortality induced by lidocaine 106 and 209 mg.kg^-1 or bupivacaine 58 and 90 mg.kg^-1 injected intraperitonally. The doses of flunitrazepam used did not cause measurable sedation in mice. The efficacy of oral flunitrazepam in preventing local anaesthetic-induced convulsions is similar to that previously reported by intraperitoneal or intramuscular injections in mice. Flunitrazepam could be useful for oral premedication of patients before regional anaesthesia.