Expert: Dr Ian Jackson - please note UK based - 2/29/2008

Question
I recently had a heart cath and these two drugs  were used for sedation.I have borderline personality disorder and after the procedure I became violent for  3 days.I need another heart procedure done and the hospital is planning on using the same sedatives.Is there any drug which will offset this reaction.

Answer
Hi Cliff
I think you need to have a discussion with your doctors about this and point out the problems you had after the last procedure. This is an unusual reaction but I suppose it could be linked to the Versed. There is nothing that would offset this reaction as we can't be sure of its mechanism, and as the drug only stays in your body for a fairly short time it is starnge that the effect lasted 3 days. There is a drug that reverses benzodiazepines such as versed called flumazenil but I couldn't be certain that that would help.
As I said best to discuss this with your doctors and see if they can come up with another drug they could use.
Kind regards
Dr Ian Jackson