Is Flumazenil a controlled substance?

Flumazenil is not federally scheduled in the US. Controlled-drug status differs by country — verify your local rules.

Flumazenil

US brand names:Romazicon

Sourced from published veterinary references. Awaiting credentialed clinical reviewer — our editorial process.

Flumazenil is dosed at 0.05 mg/kg SC, IM, IV not stated in source in ball pythons, per Mans C. Sedation of pet birds. J Exot Pet Med. 2014;23:152-157. — Source: Carpenter's Exotic Animal Formulary, 6th Ed, p.239 — Carpenter's Exotic Animal Formulary 6th ed, Table 4.5 (Chemical Restraint/Anesthetic Agents Used in Reptiles.a). The copy held is an ebook conversion with no printed page numbers, so the table — not the page — is the citable location. — SOURCE EDITION: Carpenter's Exotic Animal Formulary — ISBN 9780323833929, https://openlibrary.org/isbn/9780323833929. Verify against current literature before clinical use.

Drug Class

Antidote

Routes

Indications

administered 45 minutesBenzodiazepine (midazolam) reversalBenzodiazepine reversalbenzodiazepinesMidazolam/benzodiazepine reversalReversal of AKM (alfaxalone-ketamine-midazolam) anesthesiaReversal of benzodiazepine (diazepam) sedation Reversal of benzodiazepine sedationReversal of midazolamReversal of midazolam (benzodiazepine reversal)Reversal of midazolam and diazepamReversal of midazolam in skinks not recoveredReversal of midazolam sedation

Mechanism of Action

Competitive benzodiazepine receptor antagonist at GABA-A receptor. Reverses sedation, respiratory depression, and anxiolysis from benzodiazepines.

Side effects & warnings

Short duration (45-60 min) — resedation risk with long-acting benzodiazepines. May precipitate seizures in benzodiazepine-dependent patients or when benzos given for seizure control.

Species with Flumazenil dosing data (20 dose rules)

African Grey Parrot African Pygmy Hedgehog Amazon Parrot Ball Python Bearded Dragon Blue-tongue Skink Budgerigar Canary Cat (Domestic)Chinchilla Crested Gecko Dog (Domestic)Green Iguana Leopard Gecko Prairie Dog

Evidence levels across 20 dose rules

Moderate×8Weak×9Strong×3

Each ExoticRx dose rule is graded by the strength of its primary evidence — see the editorial process.

Backed by 16 published sources

· 22. Hawkins S, Doss G, Mans C. Evaluation of subcutaneous alfaxalone-midazolam and ketamine-midazolam sedation protocols in African pygmy hedgehogs (Atelerix albiventris). J Am Vet Med Assoc. 2020;257:820-825. — Source: Carpenter's Exotic Animal Formulary, 6th Ed, p.739 — Carpenter's Exotic Animal Formulary 6th ed, Table 8.4 (Chemical Restraint/Anesthetic Agents Used in Hedgehogs). The copy held is an ebook conversion with no printed page numbers, so the table — not the page — is the citable location. — SOURCE EDITION: Carpenter's Exotic Animal Formulary — ISBN 9780323833929, https://openlibrary.org/isbn/9780323833929; Exotic Animal Emergency and Critical Care Medicine — ISBN 9781119149231, https://openlibrary.org/isbn/9781119149231
· 295. Mans C. Sedation of pet birds. J Exot Pet Med. 2014;23:152-157. — Source: Carpenter's Exotic Animal Formulary, 6th Ed, p.239 — Carpenter's Exotic Animal Formulary 6th ed, Table 4.5 (Chemical Restraint/Anesthetic Agents Used in Reptiles.a). The copy held is an ebook conversion with no printed page numbers, so the table — not the page — is the citable location. — SOURCE EDITION: Carpenter's Exotic Animal Formulary — ISBN 9780323833929, https://openlibrary.org/isbn/9780323833929

Sample dosing (2 of 20 cited rules)

A dog/cat sample is shown here. Cited dosing for all 20 species — reptiles, birds, pocket pets, livestock, and equine — is free on the per-species pages above. Pro adds the weight-based calculator for every species.

Species	Route	Dose	Frequency	Evidence	Source
Dog (Domestic)	IV	0.01–0.02 mg/kg	IV bolus	Strong	Grimm KA, Lamont LA, Tranquilli WJ, Greene SA, Robertson SA. Veterinary Anesthesia and Analgesia: The Fifth Edition of Lumb and Jones. 5th ed. Ames, IA: Wiley-Blackwell; 2015. — Verified against Plumb's Veterinary Drug Handbook, 10th Ed, p.565 (2026-08-01). — Plumb's 10th ed (held) printed p.537, Flumazenil monograph spanning p.537-538; page located 2026-08-05 from the book's own running heads, verified to name the drug in its body text. — SOURCE EDITION: Plumb's Veterinary Drug Handbook — ISBN 9781394172207, https://openlibrary.org/isbn/9781394172207
Cat (Domestic)	IV	0.01–0.02 mg/kg	IV bolus	Strong	Grimm KA, Lamont LA, Tranquilli WJ, Greene SA, Robertson SA. Veterinary Anesthesia and Analgesia: The Fifth Edition of Lumb and Jones. 5th ed. Ames, IA: Wiley-Blackwell; 2015. — Verified against Plumb's Veterinary Drug Handbook, 10th Ed, p.565 (2026-08-01). — Plumb's 10th ed (held) printed p.537, Flumazenil monograph spanning p.537-538; page located 2026-08-05 from the book's own running heads, verified to name the drug in its body text. — SOURCE EDITION: Plumb's Veterinary Drug Handbook — ISBN 9781394172207,

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Sugar Glider Drug Dosing: A Vet Reference
A link-out dosing reference for sugar gliders (Petaurus breviceps). Covers why marsupial physiology — small body size, high metabolic rate, torpor, and a gum-feeding digestive tract — changes drug choice, plus per-class notes on antibiotics, antiparasitics, analgesia and anaesthesia, and supportive care for common presentations (NSHP/metabolic bone disease, self-mutilation, hind-limb paresis, dental disease, obesity, stress). Specific mg/kg values live on the cited drug pages.

Calculate Dosage for Flumazenil

· 574. Mans C, Guzman DS, Lahner LL, et al. Sedation and physiologic response to manual restraint after intranasal administration of midazolam in Hispaniolan Amazon parrots (Amazona ventralis). J Avian Med Surg. 2012;26:130-139. — Source: Carpenter's Exotic Animal Formulary, 6th Ed, p.450 — Carpenter's Exotic Animal Formulary 6th ed, Table 5.5 (Chemical Restraint/Anesthetic/Sedative/Analgesic Agents Used in Birds.a,b). The copy held is an ebook conversion with no printed page numbers, so the table — not the page — is the citable location. — SOURCE EDITION: Carpenter's Exotic Animal Formulary — ISBN 9780323833929, https://openlibrary.org/isbn/9780323833929

· 6. Abou-Madi N. Avian anesthesia. Vet Clin North Am Exot Anim Pract. 2001;4:147-167. — Source: Carpenter's Exotic Animal Formulary, 6th Ed, p.450 — Carpenter's Exotic Animal Formulary 6th ed, Table 5.5 (Chemical Restraint/Anesthetic/Sedative/Analgesic Agents Used in Birds.a,b). The copy held is an ebook conversion with no printed page numbers, so the table — not the page — is the citable location. — SOURCE EDITION: Carpenter's Exotic Animal Formulary — ISBN 9780323833929, https://openlibrary.org/isbn/9780323833929

· 720. Prather JF. Rapid and reliable sedation induced by diazepam and antagonized by flumazenil in zebra finches (Taeniopygia guttata). J Avian Med Surg. 2012;26:76-84. — Source: Carpenter's Exotic Animal Formulary, 6th Ed, p.450 doi:10.1647/2011-030.1 — Carpenter's Exotic Animal Formulary 6th ed, Table 5.5 (Chemical Restraint/Anesthetic/Sedative/Analgesic Agents Used in Birds.a,b). The copy held is an ebook conversion with no printed page numbers, so the table — not the page — is the citable location. — SOURCE EDITION: Carpenter's Exotic Animal Formulary — ISBN 9780323833929, https://openlibrary.org/isbn/9780323833929

· Bressan TF, Sobreira T, Carregaro AB. Use of rodent sedation tests to evaluate midazolam and flumazenil in green iguanas (Iguana iguana). J Am Assoc Lab Anim Sci. 2019;58(6):810-816. doi:10.30802/aalas-jaalas-19-000005 https://europepmc.org/article/MED/31645234 — CORROBORATED 2026-08-06 by independent literature: Use of Rodent Sedation Tests to Evaluate Midazolam and Flumazenil in Green Iguanas ( Iguana iguana ). (Journal of the American Association for Laboratory Animal Science : JAALAS, 2019). doi:10.30802/aalas-jaalas-19-000005. https://doi.org/10.30802/aalas-jaalas-19-000005. The paper reports this drug at this dose in this species: "used. All 10 iguanas were tested under 4 conditions, as follows: MS, midazolam (2 mg/kg IM) […]". This is a second source alongside the book already cited; it corroborates the figure and does not by itself establish that the dose is correct.

· Cantwell S. Ferret, rabbit, and rodent anesthesia. In: Heard D, eds. Vet Clin North Am Exot Anim Pract. 2001;4:169-191. doi:10.1016/s1094-9194(17)30056-7 — Verified against Carpenter's Exotic Animal Formulary, 6th Ed, p.859 (2026-08-01). — Carpenter's Exotic Animal Formulary 6th ed, Table 10.4 (Chemical Restraint/Sedative/Anesthetic/Analgesic Agents Used in Rabbits.a,b). The copy held is an ebook conversion with no printed page numbers, so the table — not the page — is the citable location. — SOURCE EDITION: Carpenter's Exotic Animal Formulary — ISBN 9780323833929, https://openlibrary.org/isbn/9780323833929; Zoo Animal and Wildlife Immobilization and Anesthesia — ISBN 9780813811833, https://openlibrary.org/isbn/9780813811833

· Doss GA, Fink DM, Sladky KK, Mans C. Comparison of subcutaneous dexmedetomidine-midazolam versus alfaxalone-midazolam sedation in leopard geckos (Eublepharis macularius). Vet Anaesth Analg. 2017;44(5):1175-1183. doi:10.1016/j.vaa.2017.03.007 https://europepmc.org/abstract/MED/28882371 — SOURCE EDITION: Exotic Animal Emergency and Critical Care Medicine — ISBN 9781119149231, https://openlibrary.org/isbn/9781119149231

· Grimm KA, Lamont LA, Tranquilli WJ, Greene SA, Robertson SA. Veterinary Anesthesia and Analgesia: The Fifth Edition of Lumb and Jones. 5th ed. Ames, IA: Wiley-Blackwell; 2015. — Verified against Plumb's Veterinary Drug Handbook, 10th Ed, p.565 (2026-08-01). — Plumb's 10th ed (held) printed p.537, Flumazenil monograph spanning p.537-538; page located 2026-08-05 from the book's own running heads, verified to name the drug in its body text. — SOURCE EDITION: Plumb's Veterinary Drug Handbook — ISBN 9781394172207, https://openlibrary.org/isbn/9781394172207

· Henke J, Baumgartner C, Roltgen I, et al. Anaesthesia with midazolam/medetomidine/fentanyl in chinchillas (Chinchilla lanigera) compared to anaesthesia with xylazine/ketamine and medetomidine/ketamine. J Vet Med A Physiol Pathol Clin Med. 2004;51:259-264. — Source: Carpenter's Exotic Animal Formulary, 6th Ed, p.784 doi:10.1111/j.1439-0442.2004.00632.x — Carpenter's Exotic Animal Formulary 6th ed, Table 9.3 (Chemical Restraint/Anesthetic Agents Used in Rodents). The copy held is an ebook conversion with no printed page numbers, so the table — not the page — is the citable location. — SOURCE EDITION: Carpenter's Exotic Animal Formulary — ISBN 9780323833929, https://openlibrary.org/isbn/9780323833929

· Johnson-Delaney CA. Personal observation; 2020. — Verified against Carpenter's Exotic Animal Formulary, 6th Ed, p.708 (2026-08-01). — Carpenter's Exotic Animal Formulary 6th ed, Table 7.3 (Chemical Restraint/Anesthetic Agents Used in Sugar Gliders). The copy held is an ebook conversion with no printed page numbers, so the table — not the page — is the citable location. — SOURCE EDITION: Carpenter's Exotic Animal Formulary — ISBN 9780323833929, https://openlibrary.org/isbn/9780323833929

· Mans C. Sedation of pet birds. J Exot Pet Med. 2014;23:152-157. doi:10.1053/j.jepm.2014.02.009 — Verified against Carpenter's Exotic Animal Formulary, 6th Ed, p.239 (2026-08-01). — Carpenter's Exotic Animal Formulary 6th ed, Table 4.5 (Chemical Restraint/Anesthetic Agents Used in Reptiles.a). The copy held is an ebook conversion with no printed page numbers, so the table — not the page — is the citable location. — SOURCE EDITION: Carpenter's Exotic Animal Formulary — ISBN 9780323833929, https://openlibrary.org/isbn/9780323833929

· Mans C. Sedation of pet birds. J Exot Pet Med. 2014;23:152-157. — Source: Carpenter's Exotic Animal Formulary, 6th Ed, p.239 — Carpenter's Exotic Animal Formulary 6th ed, Table 4.5 (Chemical Restraint/Anesthetic Agents Used in Reptiles.a). The copy held is an ebook conversion with no printed page numbers, so the table — not the page — is the citable location. — SOURCE EDITION: Carpenter's Exotic Animal Formulary — ISBN 9780323833929, https://openlibrary.org/isbn/9780323833929

· Mumm LE, Mans C. Evaluation of dexmedetomidine-midazolam sedation in budgerigars (Melopsittacus undulatus). J Am Vet Med Assoc. 2022;260(10):1194-1199. doi:10.2460/javma.22.01.0005 https://europepmc.org/article/MED/35482567

· Verified against Graham, Doss & Beaufrere, Exotic Animal Emergency and Critical Care Medicine, p.106 (2026-08-01). — LOCATOR CONVENTION 2026-08-07: the bare 'p.106' in this citation is the PDF index of the held scan, not the printed page. The PRINTED page is p.90; verified by finding the drug named there. If you are holding the book, turn to p.90. — SOURCE EDITION: Exotic Animal Emergency and Critical Care Medicine — ISBN 9781119149231, https://openlibrary.org/isbn/9781119149231

· Vesal N, Zare P. Clinical evaluation of intranasal benzodiazepines, alpha-agonists and their antagonists in canaries. Vet Anaesth Analg. 2006;33:143-148. — Source: Carpenter's Exotic Animal Formulary, 6th Ed, p.450 doi:10.1111/j.1467-2995.2005.00244.x — Carpenter's Exotic Animal Formulary 6th ed, Table 5.5 (Chemical Restraint/Anesthetic/Sedative/Analgesic Agents Used in Birds.a,b). The copy held is an ebook conversion with no printed page numbers, so the table — not the page — is the citable location. — SOURCE EDITION: Carpenter's Exotic Animal Formulary — ISBN 9780323833929, https://openlibrary.org/isbn/9780323833929