Anexate detected in singer Mazonakis' toxicology report adds complexity to death investigation

A recent toxicology report disclosed that the singer Mazonakis had Anexate, a flumazenil-based antidote for benzodiazepines, in his bloodstream together with propofol and midazolam, the two drugs already linked to his medical treatment. Propofol is a powerful intravenous anesthetic with no specific antidote, while midazolam is used for sedation and can occasionally trigger a paradoxical reaction that heightens agitation.

In such cases, clinicians may resort to additional sedatives like propofol, which can deepen sedation and cause apnea. The presence of Anexate can reverse midazolam's effects but does not affect propofol, meaning its detection does not confirm that the drugs' actions were counteracted. An anesthesiologist from Attikon Hospital in Athens, Dimitris Manikis, warned that combining these agents raises the risk of serious complications. Investigators are now scrutinizing the timing, dosage, and administration procedures at the Kolonaki private clinic where Mazonakis suffered cardiac arrest on September 9, to determine if medical protocols were observed before emergency responders intervened.