[Ethanol intoxication treated with flumazenil: a case report].

Ethanol possesses anxiolytic and anticonflict effect in low dose, but exhibits consciousness depression in higher serum level. It also has addictive effects on benzodiazepines (BZD) and its mechanism has been thought to be closely related to GABA-BZD receptor complex. Flumazenil is a well-known potent antagonist in benzodiazepine intoxication. It can restore the patients' consciousness in case of BZD overdose in comatose condition. In the treatment of ethanol intoxication, flumazenil has not been well-accepted as an antidote. We report a case of severe ethanol intoxication (serum level: 512 mg/dl) with deep coma. Flumazenil 0.5 mg restored her consciousness 90 mins after antidote had been administrated. According to the literature, improvement of conscious level was not due to decay of serum ethanol level but flumazenil itself, which has potential benefit to the condition of ethanol intoxication. This effect is delayed as compared with its using in BZD overdose.