How Flumazenil Works: Mechanism of Action Explained

Laboratory flask containing liquid, representing pharmaceutical testing and chemical research.

Almost every practical rule about flumazenil falls out of its receptor pharmacology. This article works through competitive antagonism at the benzodiazepine site of the GABA-A receptor, why the drug reverses sedation without producing any of its own, why it does nothing for propofol or alcohol, and why seizure is the specific adverse effect of concern.