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Midazolam (Versed)

 

Clinical Uses

  • Sedation/anxiolytic before general surgery

  • Induction of general anesthesia

  • Anterograde amnesia (impairment of memory of perioperative events)

  • Sedation before short diagnostic or endoscopic procedures

  • Supplement to nitrous oxide/oxygen as part of "Balanced Anesthesia"
 

Contraindications (partial listing)

  • Intolerance to benzodiazepines

  • Acute narrow angle glaucoma; shock, coma, acute alcohol poisoning; safe use in pregnancy (category D), labor and delivery, by nursing mothers, or by children: NOT ESTABLISHED

 Cautious Use (partial listing)

  • Impaired renal function

  • Congestive heart failure

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

 

Side Effects (Partial listing)

  • CNS: retrograde amnesia

  • CV: hypotension, arrhythmias

  • Eye: Blurred vision

  • GI: dry mouth, nausea, constipation

  •  Respiratory: coughing, laryngospasm, bronchospasm, respiratory arrest.

 

Drug Interactions (partial listing)

  •  Alcohol: Increased CNS depression

  •  Anticonvulsants: Increased CNS depression

Shannon, M.T., Wilson, B.A., Stang, C. L. In, Govoni and Hayes 8th Edition: Drugs and Nursing Implications Appleton & Lange, 1995, pp 780-781.
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