Psychopharmacology: flumazenil: practice question

A Psychiatry question in the style of the NEET PG paper. Answer it first, then read why the right option is right and why each of the others is wrong.

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Psychiatry · Psychopharmacology: flumazenil

Sample item

Flumazenil is a competitive antagonist at the benzodiazepine site. Which caution applies to its use?

Original practice item, not a recalled exam question. Nothing here is recorded.

The answer and the reasoning

B. It may precipitate seizures in benzodiazepine-dependent patients

Flumazenil reverses benzodiazepine sedation, but in chronic users or mixed overdoses with proconvulsants, such as tricyclics, it can provoke withdrawal seizures. Its half-life is short, so re-sedation may occur.

Option by option

  • A. It reverses opioid respiratory depression

    Naloxone, not flumazenil, reverses opioids.

  • B. It may precipitate seizures in benzodiazepine-dependent patients (correct)

    Correct. Seizure risk in dependent patients is the main caution.

  • C. It is effective against alcohol intoxication

    It does not reverse the effects of alcohol.

  • D. It must be given orally only

    It is given intravenously for reversal.

Source note: Original NextPrep sample item — pending expert review. This item is original practice material awaiting independent expert review, so confirm important facts in a standard textbook.

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Questions about this Psychiatry question

What is the answer to this Psychiatry question?

The best answer is B, It may precipitate seizures in benzodiazepine-dependent patients. Flumazenil reverses benzodiazepine sedation, but in chronic users or mixed overdoses with proconvulsants, such as tricyclics, it can provoke withdrawal seizures.

Why is "It reverses opioid respiratory depression" not the answer?

Naloxone, not flumazenil, reverses opioids.

Why is "It is effective against alcohol intoxication" not the answer?

It does not reverse the effects of alcohol.

Why is "It must be given orally only" not the answer?

It is given intravenously for reversal.

What concept does this question test?

It tests Psychopharmacology: flumazenil in Psychiatry. Its half-life is short, so re-sedation may occur.

How hard is this question?

We tag it as an application question: it asks you to use a fact on a patient or a finding. The tag is our own editorial judgement, not an official difficulty rating, so read the reason for every option, not only the answer.

How should I study Psychopharmacology: flumazenil?

Learn each diagnosis by its core features and its first-line treatment. Then use the flashcards and the other Psychiatry questions on this site to test what stuck.

Is this a real NEET PG question?

No. It is an original practice item (editorial status: sample, version 1). NextPrep does not publish recalled or leaked questions, and independent faculty review of this item has not been completed yet, so confirm important facts in a standard textbook.