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Midazolam Injection

  • Generic Name: midazolam
  • Brand Name: Midazolam Injection

side effects drug center midazolam injection (midazolam) drug - patient side effects and images

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    • Midazolam Injection Patient Information Including Side Effects

    Generic Name: midazolam (injection)

    What is midazolam?

    Midazolam injection is a benzodiazepine (ben-zoe-dye-AZE-eh-peen) that is used to sedate a person who is having a minor surgery, dental work, or other medical procedure.

    Midazolam injection is also used to sedate a patient who is under critical care and needs a mechanical ventilator (breathing machine).

    Midazolam injection may also be used for purposes not listed in this medication guide.

    What are the possible side effects of midazolam?

    Get emergency medical help if you have signs of an allergic reaction: hives; difficulty breathing; swelling of your face, lips, tongue, or throat.

    Midazolam can slow or stop your breathing, especially if you have recently used an opioid medication, alcohol, or other drugs that can slow your breathing. Your caregivers will watch you for symptoms such as weak or shallow breathing.

    Tell your caregivers right away if you have:

    • wheezing, trouble breathing, weak or shallow breathing;
    • slow heart rate;
    • a light-headed feeling, like you might pass out;
    • tremors, uncontrolled muscle movements; or
    • confusion, hallucinations, unusual thoughts or behavior.

    The sedative effects of midazolam may last longer in older adults. Accidental falls are common in elderly patients who use benzodiazepines.

    Common side effects may include:

    • headache;
    • drowsiness;
    • amnesia or forgetfulness after your procedure;
    • hiccups;
    • nausea, vomiting; or
    • pain, redness, or tenderness where the medicine was injected.

    This is not a complete list of side effects and others may occur. Call your doctor for medical advice about side effects. You may report side effects to FDA at 1-800-FDA-1088.

    What is the most important information I should know about midazolam?

    Tell your doctor about all your current medicines and any you start or stop using. Midazolam can slow or stop your breathing, especially if you have recently used an opioid medication, alcohol, or other drugs that can slow your breathing.

    Tell your doctor about all your medical conditions or allergies, or if you are pregnant or breastfeeding.

    Midazolam Injection Patient Information including How Should I Take

    What should I discuss with my healthcare provider before receiving midazolam?

    You should not be treated with midazolam if you are allergic to it, or if you have:

    If possible before you receive midazolam, tell your caregivers if you have ever had:

    Midazolam may harm an unborn baby, and generally should not be used during pregnancy.

    Sedatives used during surgery may affect brain development in a child under 3, or an unborn baby whose mother receives this medicine during late pregnancy. These effects may be more likely when a sedative is used for 3 hours or longer, or used for repeated procedures. Effects on brain development could cause learning or behavior problems later in life.

    Negative brain effects from sedatives have been seen in animal studies. However, studies in human children receiving single short uses of this medicine have not shown a likely effect on behavior or learning. More research is needed.

    In some cases, your doctor may decide to postpone a surgery based on these risks. Treatment may not be delayed in the case of life-threatening conditions, medical emergencies, or surgery needed to correct certain birth defects.

    Ask your doctor for information about all medicines that will be used during your surgery, and how long the surgery will last.

    It may not be safe to breastfeed while using this medicine. Ask your doctor about any risk.

    In an emergency, you may not be able to tell caregivers if you are pregnant or breastfeeding. Make sure any doctor caring for your pregnancy or your baby knows you received this medicine.

    How is midazolam injection given?

    Midazolam is injected into a muscle, or as an infusion into a vein. You will receive this injection in a medical, dental, or surgical setting.

    Midazolam is usually given as a single dose just before a surgery or medical procedure. For mechanical ventilation, midazolam is given using a continuous infusion that keeps the patient sedated around the clock.

    Midazolam can make you very drowsy, dizzy, or light-headed. These effects may last longer in older adults. Use caution to avoid falling or accidental injury after you have received midazolam injection. You may need help getting out of bed for several hours.

    After treatment with midazolam injection, you will be watched to make sure the medication is working and does not cause harmful side effects. Your breathing, blood pressure, oxygen levels, and other vital signs will be watched closely.

    When midazolam is discontinued after long-term use, you may have withdrawal symptoms. The most common withdrawal symptoms are hallucinations, tremors, sweating, muscle cramps, stomach pain, and vomiting. You may also have a seizure (convulsions).

    Midazolam Injection Patient Information including If I Miss a Dose

    What happens if I miss a dose?

    Because you will receive midazolam in a clinical setting, you are not likely to miss a dose.

    What happens if I overdose?

    Seek emergency medical attention or call the Poison Help line at 1-800-222-1222.

    Since this medication is given by a healthcare professional in a medical setting, an overdose is unlikely to occur.

    What should I avoid after receiving midazolam?

    Do not drink alcohol shortly after receiving midazolam. This medicine can increase the effects of alcohol, which could be dangerous.

    Midazolam injection can cause extreme drowsiness that may last for several hours after you have received the medication. Older adults may feel sleepy for even longer.

    Avoid driving or doing anything that requires you to be awake and alert until the effects of this medicine have worn off completely.

    What other drugs will affect midazolam?

    Shortly after you are treated with midazolam, using other drugs that make you sleepy or slow your breathing can cause dangerous side effects or death. Ask your doctor before using opioid medication, a sleeping pill, a muscle relaxer, or medicine for anxiety or seizures.

    Tell your doctor about all your other medicines, especially:

    This list is not complete. Other drugs may affect midazolam, including prescription and over-the-counter medicines, vitamins, and herbal products. Not all possible drug interactions are listed here.

    Where can I get more information?

    Your doctor or pharmacist can provide more information about midazolam injection.

    Remember, keep this and all other medicines out of the reach of children, never share your medicines with others, and use this medication only for the indication prescribed.
    Every effort has been made to ensure that the information provided by Cerner Multum, Inc. ('Multum') is accurate, up-to-date, and complete, but no guarantee is made to that effect. Drug information contained herein may be time sensitive. Multum information has been compiled for use by healthcare practitioners and consumers in the United States and therefore Multum does not warrant that uses outside of the United States are appropriate, unless specifically indicated otherwise. Multum's drug information does not endorse drugs, diagnose patients or recommend therapy. Multum's drug information is an informational resource designed to assist licensed healthcare practitioners in caring for their patients and/or to serve consumers viewing this service as a supplement to, and not a substitute for, the expertise, skill, knowledge and judgment of healthcare practitioners. The absence of a warning for a given drug or drug combination in no way should be construed to indicate that the drug or drug combination is safe, effective or appropriate for any given patient. Multum does not assume any responsibility for any aspect of healthcare administered with the aid of information Multum provides. The information contained herein is not intended to cover all possible uses, directions, precautions, warnings, drug interactions, allergic reactions, or adverse effects. If you have questions about the drugs you are taking, check with your doctor, nurse or pharmacist.

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