Ability of flumazenil, butorphanol, and naloxone to reverse the anesthetic effects of oxymorphone-diazepam in dogs

Six dogs were randomly assigned to each of 6 reversal treatment groups. At least 7 days were allowed to elapse between experiments in the same dog. In each experiment, oxymorphone (0.22 mg/kg of body weight, i.v.) and diazepam (0.22 mg/kg, i.v.) were given sequentially 15 min after glycopyrrolate (0.01 mg/kg, i.v.) administration. Physiological saline solution (SAL, 1 ml), flumazenil (FLU, 0.01 mg/kg), butorphanol (BUT, 0.44 mg/kg), or naloxone (NAL, 0.06 mg/kg) alone, or FLU-BUT or FLU-NAL (same dosages) was given i.v. as a reversal treatment 15 min after oxymorphone-diazepam administration. An individual unaware of the treatment protocol recorded time to extubation, sternal recumbency, and walking. Time to extubation was significantly less with BUT, NAL, FLU-BUT, or FLU-NAL treatment, compared with that for SAL treatment. Time to sternal recumbency was less with BUT, NAL, FLU-BUT, or FLU-NAL treatment, compared with that for SAL treatment. Time to walking was less with FLU-BUT or FLU-NAL treatment, compared with that for SAL treatment. It is concluded that flumazenil, in combination with butorphanol or naloxone, can be used to reverse the anaesthetic effects of oxymorphone-diazepam in dogs..