Midazolam

Midazolam is a type of drug belonging to the benzodiazepine class. It is used as a sedative, because it calms people down. It is also used as an anesthetic. It will make people sleepy. It also causes anterograde amnesia^[1] In some parts of the world it is known as Versed.

Midazolam is a benzodiazepine, so people may get addicted to it if they take it for a longer period of time.

The drug does not make people to become unconscious, it only sedates them.^[1] Midazolam is also used to treat long-lasting seizures.^[2] Most often, a seizure is short. Midazolam is available in different forms; there are tablets to be taken by mouth, there is a solution that can be injected, and there are ways to allow to give it anally. There is also a spray. When it is injected, it usually starts working within as little as five minutes. Effects last between one and six hours.

Side effects include a decrease in efforts to breathe, low blood pressure (hypotension), and sleepiness.^[1] Tolerance to its effects and withdrawal syndrome may occur after long-term use.^[3] Paradoxical effects, such as increased activity, can occur especially in children and older people.^[3] There is evidence of risk when used during pregnancy but no evidence of harm with a single dose during breastfeeding.^[4][5] Like other benzodiazepines, it works by increasing the activity of the GABA neurotransmitter in the brain.

Midazolam was patented in 1974 and came into medical use in 1982.^[6] It is on the World Health Organization's List of Essential Medicines.^[7] Midazolam is available as a generic medication.^[4]In many countries, it is a controlled substance.^[1] This means that a medical prescription is required to get it.

In the past, midazolam has been used for the following:

• Acute management of longer epileptic seizures, including status epilepticus.
• As a sedative for someone before a medical intervention (usually combined with an opioid such as fentanyl)
• To manage agitation in diseases such as schizophrenia, usually combined with an antipsychotic.
• End-of-life (palliative) care

1. ↑ ^{1.0 1.1 1.2 1.3} "Midazolam Hydrochloride". The American Society of Health-System Pharmacists. Archived from the original on 5 September 2015. Retrieved 1 August 2015.
2. ↑ Brigo F, Nardone R, Tezzon F, Trinka E (August 2015). "Nonintravenous midazolam versus intravenous or rectal diazepam for the treatment of early status epilepticus: A systematic review with meta-analysis". Epilepsy & Behavior. 49: 325–336. doi:10.1016/j.yebeh.2015.02.030. PMID 25817929.
3. ↑ ^{3.0 3.1} Riss J, Cloyd J, Gates J, Collins S (August 2008). "Benzodiazepines in epilepsy: pharmacology and pharmacokinetics". Acta Neurologica Scandinavica. 118 (2): 69–86. doi:10.1111/j.1600-0404.2008.01004.x. PMID 18384456.
4. ↑ ^{4.0 4.1} Hamilton R (2015). Tarascon Pocket Pharmacopoeia 2015 Deluxe Lab-Coat Edition. Jones & Bartlett Learning. p. 21. ISBN 9781284057560.
5. ↑ "Midazolam use while Breastfeeding". Archived from the original on 5 September 2015. Retrieved 29 August 2015.
6. ↑ Fischer J, Ganellin CR (2006). Analogue-based Drug Discovery. John Wiley & Sons. p. 539. ISBN 9783527607495. Archived from the original on 30 November 2021. Retrieved 24 August 2020.
7. ↑ World Health Organization (2021). World Health Organization model list of essential medicines: 22nd list (2021). Geneva: World Health Organization. hdl:10665/345533. WHO/MHP/HPS/EML/2021.02.