Central nervous system depression can also be caused by the accidental or intentional inhalation or ingestion of certain volatile chemicals such as butanone (contained in plastic cement) or isopropyl alcohol.
In the case of accidental overdose of GHB, patients can become drowsy, fall asleep and may enter a coma.
Naloxone is typically administered in short intervals with relatively small doses in order to prevent the occurrence of withdrawal, pain, and sympathetic nervous system activation.
Similarly to naloxone, flumazenil has a short half-life, and this needs to be taken into account because the patient may exhibit central nervous depression after the antidote has been cleared.
Even if they are rarely used in colonoscopies they are important in preventing the patient from entering a coma or developing respiratory depression when sedatives are not properly dosed.