Midazolam is an anaesthetic medication developed by the U.S. Food And Drug Administration. It was initially approved on October 8, 1985, for treating status epilepticus.

Midazolam helps to treat certain conditions like status epilepticus (which is a prolonged and continuous seizure activity or recurrent seizures without a return to baseline neurological function between seizures), preoperative sedation (aims to help relax patients and reduce anxiety before surgery), and amnesia (memory loss).

Midazolam will be administered to you by a healthcare professional in a hospital setting. It is usually administered orally, intravenously, intramuscularly, or as a nasal spray. Your doctor will decide the dose, route of administration, and frequency based on your disease condition and other factors.

The side effects known to occur commonly during the treatment with Midazolam are injection site reactions (redness, pain, swelling), nausea, vomiting, drowsiness, cough, headache, hiccup, dry mouth and feeling confused.

This drug is contraindicated for patients with known hypersensitivity or allergy to the drug, and it is not advised to administer the drug to them. Also, this drug is contraindicated in patients with acute narrow-angle glaucoma (Narrow-angle glaucoma is a specific type of glaucoma that can cause a sudden increase in eye pressure). Benzodiazepines should be avoided in patients with this condition because they may further increase intraocular pressure, which can be harmful. Suppose you have severe breathing problems, such as chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) or asthma. In that case, informing your doctor or nurse before being administered Midazolam for conscious sedation is important. This drug can cause respiratory depression, which means it can slow down or decrease your respiratory function.

Report to your physician if you suspect pregnancy, breastfeeding, or planning to have a baby. This drug during breastfeeding is unsafe because it tends to get excreted in human milk. Consult your doctor for more advice. Midazolam is not intended for epidural or intrathecal administration due to the preservative benzyl alcohol in the dosage form. Benzyl alcohol has been linked with serious adverse effects resulting in neurological toxicity.

Consumption of alcohol or other sedatives alongside this drug can increase the sedative effects and lead to excessive drowsiness. It is advisable to avoid alcohol and other sedatives during the period of this drug use. Ask your physician or pharmacist for clarification if you have any doubts about the medicine. Keep Midazolam away from excessive moisture and heat, as they can degrade the medication. Store them in a cool, dry place.

1. Hameln Pharma Ltd, Electronic medicines compendium (EMC), [ Revised on April 2020] [ Accessed on 31st May 2023], https://www.medicines.org.uk/emc/files/pil.6420.pdf
2. Fresenius kabi, US Food and Drug Administration, [ Revised on March 2017] [Accessed on 31st May 2023], https://www.accessdata.fda.gov/drugsatfda_docs/label/2017/208878Orig1s000lbl.pdf
3. Goodman & Gilman’s, The Pharmacological Basis of Therapeutics, General anaesthetics and therapeutic gases, 12th edition, 2011, 548.
4. KD Tripathi, Essentials of Medical Pharmacology, General anaesthetics, 7th edition, 2013, 383.

The drug information on this page is not a substitute for medical advice; it is meant for educational purposes only. For further details, consult your doctor about your medical condition to know if you are eligible to receive this treatment.