Clinical Uses

• Reduce anxiety prior to surgery; may reduce amount of inhalational agent required.

• Drug of choice by IV for termination of status epilepticus

• Anxiolytic

• Reduce anxiety prior to endoscopy and cardioversion

• Mangement of acute ethanol withdrawal

 Adverse Effects

 Contraindications

• by injection: shock, coma, acute alcohol intoxication, infants < 30 days old

• by tabet: children less than 6 months; acute narrow angle glaucoma, untreated open angle glaucoma, during or within 14 days of MAO inhibitor therapy; safe use in pregnancy not established

 Cautious Use (partial listing):

• Impaired renal or hepatic function

• Mental depression

• Drug abuse

• Addiction prone patients

• Elderly or in patients with COPD (I.V)

Side Effects (Partial listing)

• CNS: drowsiness, fatigure, amnesia

•  CV: hypotension, cardiovascular collapse

• Eye: Blurred vision

• GI: dry mouth, nausea, constipation

• GU: gynecomastia (prolonged use), incontinence, urinary retention

Shannon, M.T., Wilson, B.A., Stang, C. L. In, Govoni and Hayes 8th Edition: Drugs and Nursing Implications Appleton & Lange, 1995, pp 396-397.