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Midazolam Sedation Is Not ALWAYS Safe
posted by Jackie Murray on 16 Sept 2006 at 8:06 amMidazolam/Versed is not as safe as the manufacturer would like you to believe. It causes extreme mental reactions in some (maybe many) patients, which last well beyond the systemic life of the drug. Amnesia and /or a hypnotic effect is not always desired by the patient and should be explained clearly to the patient before application. This reaction is well known to the administrators of this drug, but it is not widely reported.
Read the news article that this opinion was posted about:
New ITI Study Shows Potential Of Intranasal Midazolam As An Effective, Noninvasive Sedative
Not Everybody Hates This Drug!
posted by tess on 04 Mar 2010 at 9:52 pm
Wanting to ban this drug would be really unfair to people like me who think it's a god send. I've had IV sedation with this drug three times and they were the three best dental experiences I've ever had in my whole life.
I am terrified of dental procedures (phobic I guess) and this made it all so easy and positive for me. I would say though that I believe the doctor administering it was very good at explaining all the potential side effects. I will use it again for sure.
No Problems With Midazolam!
posted by Wendy G. on 05 Mar 2010 at 3:13 am
22 years ago I was diagnosed with ulcerative colitis and had a Sigmoidoscopy, after treatment, to see how I had recovered. I had NO sedation and I have to say this was the WORST experience of my life. I have a good pain threshold, and have had babies etc. but I was in bed for two days after this procedure feeling dreadfully ill.I have refused any internal exams since, but had a bad flare up recently and was advised to have the procedure repeated.I agreed but only if I was given sedation. I was given 5 mg Midazolam, went to sleep, woke up in the recovery room where my daughter was waiting to drive me home. I slept most of the rest of the day but felt fine the following day, and since, and would have no fear of repeating this procedure again.
Nausea
posted by samantha on 21 Mar 2010 at 10:43 pm
My daughter aged 16 at the time, was given 1mg IV Midazoalm for nausea. This indication is used "off label". She suffered an Adverse Drug Reaction and as a result suffered from Hypoxia. I am now advised to have a Colonoscopy and Endoscopy and to be sedated with this drug. I really do not know whether to have it not after her reaction and especially now hearing these incidences.
No Probs With Midazolam
posted by Chrissie on 27 Apr 2010 at 2:18 pm
I've been reading all the negative stuff here and I'm really sorry you all had bad experiences but to reassure some people, I had an Endoscopy & Colonoscopy yesterday with Mirdazolam prescribed. I have no recollection of Endoscopy at all but became aware during Colonoscopy of some pain (I certainly remember moaning and being reassured!). I also managed to watch some of the images on tv and thinking how clean it all looked! For me, the drug was fine. I came round quickly, had no problems afterwards and it made the procedures bearable. Maybe I was lucky or maybe there are more people like me than those that don't get on with drug. To those it didn't work for, I'm sorry but for some people it's a good option!
I Definitely Had Problems With This Drug! Versed
posted by Anon on 02 May 2010 at 11:53 am
My experience was completely opposite from the previous poster! I was completely calm going into the colonoscopy procedure, was given Versed, and felt sheer terror, anxiety, and dizziness overcome me immediately. I woke up once, thrashing around in excruciating pain, and tried to scream, but wasn't sure if the screams were audible. I then had total amnesia for 2 hours afterwards, and partial amnesia for another hour afterward. I "woke up" in mid-sentence, not knowing what had just been said. I was traumatized for months afterward, and will NEVER accept this drug again. Also I was misled into thinking I was being given something just to relax, and the amnesia was (deliberately?) never explained.) HORRIBLE EXPERIENCE I wouldn't wish on my worst enemny. Why didn't I have an experience like "Chrissie" ?
Worked Fine For Me
posted by richjenn13 on 04 May 2010 at 1:44 pm
Contrary to other correspondents, I was given Midazolam prior to an Endoscopy, and was happy with the result. I was advised it would have an amnesiac effect, which it certainly did, but being pre-warned meant that I was ok with the recovery phase, and it made the procedure totally untraumatic. I would happily use it again.
Medazolam Saved My Sanity
posted by Sharon H on 08 May 2010 at 4:46 am
I'd to have a sigmoidoscopy Wed. 5th May. Due to my mental health issues I'd requested sedation prior to my appointment.The medical staff had the details on file for this. I was unaware that the Dr whose list I had been placed on had a negative attiude to sedation for what she termed as such a minor procedure.I was disgusted at this and refused consent without sedation being given. Instead of putting me through the trauma of rescheduling the nursing staff were excellent they got me onto another Drs list- needless to say it did make his list run late.
I was given 3mg of Medazolam by IV and the only discomfort I experienced was when the biopsies were taken- without the drug I'd have been a nervous wreck. Within an hour of being taken into the recovery area I was sat up on the bed having coffee and toast. I went to my sisters for about 3 hours then went home via the shops to get a few things. The only two activities I didn't carry out were cooking and taking a bath till the next day - I can fall asleep in the bath without having been sedated anyway! To be honest the drug did nothing to me - well in the past I have been prescribed 5mg Nitrazapam which is supposed to have the same effect.
WHY ALL THE FUSS OVER THIS DRUG NO ONE CAN PREDICT HOW IT WILL AFFECT INDIVIDUALS SO YOU CAN'T SAY IT SHOULD BE BANNED
Just My Point Sharon!
posted by Neve Again on 09 May 2010 at 5:24 pm
Sharon you are absolutely correct when you state that "...no one can predict how it will affect individuals..." This is precisely why this drug should NOT be used on everyone who walks through the doors. I would like to see it banned because *I* had a severe and long-lasting reaction to it.
This is an obviously "unpredictable" drug and nobody has the right to force this kind of drug on us without knowing how it will work!!! The side effects are just too severe to risk. Sorry you have a phobia, and maybe it could be used on rare occasions for people like you, but for you to take offense because we were forcefully medicated with an "unpredictable" drug and suffered the damaging side effects, is absurd.
That's exactly why "all this fuss over this drug." We don't need it! We don't want it! We had severe side effects which lasted for years. This drug is too dangerous to use on everybody. BAN IT!
Would Never Use Again
posted by Desiree on 10 May 2010 at 9:45 pm
My three year old son went in for a same day procedure and they used Midazolam on him said that it would relax him and make the seperation process from his parents go smoother, well needless to say about 15 minutes after giving my son this medicine he became very violent with the nurses and his dad, it took us almost an hour to get him in the operating room and even then it wasn't without a fight. We were told by the Doctor that his reaction was perfectly normal but if you look up the possible side effects mood/mental changes are not normal so why did they insist on lying to us and why did they proceed to put my son under anesthesia? All side effects should be disclosed to the patient not just a few but everything so that we are aware of what to expect as normal. My hospital has left me upset over how my son was treated.
Versed Without Consent
posted by Anon on 22 May 2010 at 4:38 pm
Rather than be concerned that they hurt or frighten you, it is easier to just wipe your memory with Versed. They COULD give you adequate sedation or pain relief, but it's faster, easier and cheaper to make you forget how they treated you. They COULD ask you whether you wanted to remember or not. Instead, what works for them is no record, no witnesses, no recourse. There will be no kindness or care since everybody knows you won't remember. And if your memory won't come back and you feel frightened and betrayed you will get another dose of unkindness if you mention it.
Don't Do It Samantha!
posted by Never Again on 23 May 2010 at 2:07 pm
I had a horrible reaction to Versed and guess what? My biological sister also didn't respond as expected to Versed. Apparently, unlike some would have you believe, there are differences in the way people respond to this poison. There could be a genetic disposition to this, my own take is that it correlates with IQ and/or an analytical mind. Engineers seem to have an unbelievable high rate of bad reaction to Versed.
Something about the way information is processed. Yes there are detectable differences in brain function. So, given that your child, if she's biologically yours, had a bad reaction to Versed, I would think that statistically YOU might be at greater risk. Fully 10% of patients have problems with Versed and probably close to 1/2 merely have a bad experience. Too risky. My own mother won't have Versed after she saw what happened to her children. They have other, better drugs... Medical people just like the convenience of Versed and the fact that they don't have to interact with the patient at all.
Versed Impairs Explicit Memory Leaving Implicit Memory Relatively Unimpaired.
posted by Anon on 29 May 2010 at 2:10 pm
Physicians have no scientific understanding of memory that I can detect. Almost all of human learning and memory is IMPLICIT. Versed (midazolam)impairs explicit learning so you can't talk about it, but the experience memory (IMPLICIT)is mostly unaffected except at extremely high doses.
So, after being told I was to receive a mu-opiod agonist for analgesia, I was given Versed (a benzodiazepine) for paralysis and amnesia without my knowledge--as if I wouldn't know! So now, if I awake from sleep on my left side (the upper endoscopy position), I am crying and vomiting. This is IMPLICIT memory. Implicit memories are hard to resolve.
I am very familiar with Midazolam for paralyzing laboratory animals for surgery without analgesia but never expected to be the rat. Any one of my colleagues at the university would have sued--not to win, but for the insult of being lied to. (It's easy. Just fill out 3 simple forms at the courthouse, maybe $135 in fees and process service, depending on state. Always an effective way to express your displeasure to someone who has treated you with contempt). Uninformed consent is not consent. Legally, lying in a fiduciary relationship is assumed to be self-serving and calls into question the intent of all aspects of the service rendered.
Google midazolam implicit explicit for a weeks worth of reading. You might enjoy discovering that your doctor is not only a liar but stupid and not interested. Why know something that will humanize a paralyzed piece of meat? You might have to talk to it to extract money.
But They Will NOT Tell You!
posted by Rob on 21 Jun 2010 at 11:12 am
Quote: "I suggest that you carefully signing a consent for "conscious sedation" if the drug midazolam is used."
The problem is, as was the case with my wife and the oral surgeon, they will NEVER tell you they use Versed! The ONLY thing the dentist said was "you will be relaxed and able to respond to voice or touch". Then I find out she was given Versed, Nubain, and Phenergan. The other two drugs have a sedative effect as well. She confronted him 2 weeks later and he lied about it. He claimed he told her what drugs he uses. That is a lie because she would have refused it! He offered up a weak apology that she feels tricked and lied to, but that's it. Now I am the one suffering because I am so angry my wife was given that poison! It is all I can think about now.
Versed Reactions
posted by Lisa on 02 July 2010 at 8:12 pm
My son had liquid Versed plus nitrous oxide at the oral surgeon for the removal of four molars. They said he wouldn't remember anything. Not only did he remember the whole thing, he was very agitated and combative afterwards. This is my 105-pound 12-year-old who is as strong as I am. He wouldn't listen to directions (like hold onto the hand rail so you don't fall down the stairs, stay in the car until I can help you) and he started crying, bawling loudly, drooling blood because he refused to keep the gauze in his mouth, for the next hour and a half. He was covered in blood. I'm surprised I didn't have a car accident listening to him cry and scream for the 30-minute drive home. When we got home, he got out of the car even though I told him not to and he fell flat on his face. Luckily it was in the grass and not on the driveway. At home he was complaining of double vision and blurriness, but he finally fell asleep at home after we hand fed him bits of bread. (He hadn't eaten anything all day and it was after lunch.) Horrible experience. I would NEVER voluntarily take that drug or give it to my kids again. None of the forms I filled out mentioned these side effects. It was a nightmare. Luckily, when he woke up two hours later he was pretty normal. He had some amnesia but of course not for the tooth removal which was why he took the drug! And I paid EXTRA money for this specialist??? We should have just gone to the dentist and had novacaine.
Versed (midazolam) Can Be Dangerous
posted by Dr. B on 02 July 2010 at 8:22 pm
Versed (midazolam) is reported to cause long-term emeory loss in up to 10% of the patients who receive it for simple screening colonoscopy. This is a fact that is denied by many endo docs. I know that it has a short half-life, but the memory loss can be very long-term. I have seen this in way too many patients.
Versed Over Dose Given By Doctors Quit My Breathing And I Almost Died.
posted by Rhonda Holt on 20 Aug 2010 at 12:53 am
Several years ago approximately 2003 , I underwent an endoscopy, and I have to say it was the most terrifying night mare I ever experienced, They administered Versed and Not only did I feel everything that was going on, the doctor over dosed me and quit my breathing 4 different times, and each time they resuscitated me they went back and gave me more only to stop my breathing, finally the doctor could not get my breathing to start so he ran for his supervisor and they finally got me breathing again, I remember every feeling of that tube in my stomach, and when they were done, the doctor came up to me and was in tears and apologizing and said i was a trooper and he did not think anyone could of pulled through that... he then went to find my husband and told him what happened and admitted he gave me enough versed that would of killed my husband and himself but he said I was a trooper and pulled through it.... I have never been the same since that day, I had a permanent hydiladia hernia in my esophagus..I have nightmares and am terrified of hospitals..
I have neurological problems now and they try to say its MS, since after that procedure I have white spots on my brain..I tried to take this to a lawsuit and no one would take my case due to all my records had mysteriously disappeared..I do not know what this drug is or if they know its ruined many lives but I know live a life in a nightmare, like I am in a dream stage and never have been able to be the same as I was before that procedure and overdose that quit my breathing.. I feel for anyone who has gone through this and I hope they find something about this medication and come forward and help us who's lives it destroyed....My life will never be the same and I will never be able to feel and think normal and get out of this dream like nightmare I feel I have been living in....I hope more come forward with there storied so we can all have more moral support and force them to investigate this medication... Anyone can contact me if you have had the same problems and nightmares with the administration of Versed...
Paradoxical Reaction To Versed
posted by Colleen on 30 Aug 2010 at 10:23 pm
A week ago I was to undergo a biopsy and was told I would be given IV sedation of Versed. I have an anxiety disorder, so despite the amnesia after-effect, I decided to go ahead with the Versed because of its' anti-anxiety properties. I don't know how much was given to me, but as soon as it was given, I went into a full-blown anxiety attack, which for me includes fear and crying. What surprised me was that I then became agitated and uncooperative--pulling the draping away, yelling at the medical staff and attempting to get off the table. And, for a drug that is suppose to cause amnesia, I remember everything! Suffice it to say, the biopsy was not done. I have know I idea what the plan of action is--because the doctor needs to come up with something--as of now the biopsy has not been rescheduled.
Versed Terrible Drug
posted by Amilia on 02 Sept 2010 at 8:33 pm
My husband, then age 82, had a quadruple bypass and aortic valve replacement 8-17. The surgery took 8.5 hours. He was originally scheduled for 8-13, but an emergency preempted his surgery. We were spoken to briefly by the anesthesiologist on that morning, but I don't remember that the name of any particular anesthetic was given. K. woke up after the surgery but developed bowel complications which forced him back into the O.R., again on Aug. 26th.
After the heart surgery, K was given a morphine pump, then slowly weened down to less potent pain meds. By the second day, he had begun to hallucinate, slept poorly, heard voices and believed he saw people in the room. Still, 9 days later, he was given versed for the abdominal surgery, and has been on a respirator and unconscious for more than 7 days, since. We suggested the anecdote mentioned in previous postings but were told that it doesn't work on versed.
We were never advised that versed could have these effects on my husband; in fact I do not remember that the name of the drug was ever spoken. Except for his heart condition, my husband entered the hospital a healthy man, both in body and mind. He exercised regularly and wrote with a writing group. He has a great sense of humor, acts in community theater, reads and we love to travel. Now, all we can do is pray and wait for him to wake up.
Amelia
Colonoscopy W/painkiller Only
posted by Edward on 23 Sept 2010 at 1:49 pm
For me, avoiding midazolam is a no-brainer. Any drug that has the hundreds of negative comments that midazolam has, it a bad drug. I recently scheduled a colonoscopy and specified no sedation; I got totally pissed when a nurse "insisted" that I sign a sedation consent.
The endo doc listened to my objections to Versed and i was surprized when she basically told me that I was right. She said that it is a patient-control drug and that they like the patient to have amnesia; unfortunately many have long-term memory impairment. She also admitted that they are basically "sneaky" about how the patient is consented; basically the patient is told that Versed is a "relaxing" drug" not an "amnesia drug".
At that point I told her to get my clothes, I was leaving; she asked me to listen further. She said that Versed sucks in a lot of ways, but asked what I would do in her shoes? Tell patients that a better drug (propofol) is available but probably not covered by insurance. Tell the patients the truth about Versed, but then many would not get a colonoscopy and die from cancer. I said that I would not lie to patients and proceeded to get dressed; she continued to talk as I dressed and tried to convince me that I needed the test.
She offered an alternative: painkiller (fentanyl) only; no amnesia, no sedation just no pain. I asked why this isn't the norm and she said that most patients want to sleep thru the procedure (despite the fact that they are awake with Versed)....and that some are too shy not to be sedated. She laughed and said that I obviously wasn't shy since I was dressing while talking to her, so I said just do it. The test with painkiller only was a breeze. I now realize that a lot of gastro docs are slobs when they lie to patients about Versed, but the one that I saw clearly had the patient's best interest at heart. I'll be going back next year for another exam; I liked her. Maybe it was because she's cute, or because of the way she had a sense of humor when she was encouraging me to fart during the test.
Bad Trip
posted by Jesus Ortega on 14 Oct 2010 at 5:12 pm
I just had Versed yesterday for a wisdom tooth extraction and it was the scariest trip of my life. I saw someone else describe the same experience that I had. I felt like I was flying through a glass tunnel and I could hear the robot-like, distorted, voices of the Dentist and Nurses. Then when they actually pulled the tooth out, I felt it and woke up briefly. I then dreamed that I was in a Techno-Rock Opera. I woke up singing in a heavy metal voice. It was very bizarre and terrifying. I will never get take Versed again.
Versed Abused By Endoscopist As A Truth Drug
posted by Pyotr on 13 Dec 2010 at 1:34 am
I was given Versed and Demerol IV prior to an endoscopy; the last thing I remember was the endoscopist asking me my salary (I worked as medical writer for a local cardiology clinic and we were reputed to pay very well). While recovering from the procedure, my wife was sitting with me and was shocked when I commented (rather audibly) on the breasts of one of the nurses passing by the hallway.
I've heard of Versed being used as a truth drug before; I believe that the physician who administered the drug was depending on Versed's reputed neurolept (amnestic) effect to cause me to forget a rather inappropriate question asked during induction of anesthesia. I wonder what else this creep asked his patients during induction with Versed, or what they may have divulged while under its influence.
As a medical writer and statistician, I've also had occasion to witness several conscious sedation procedures using Versed. Patients are generally quite talkative and often wind up sharing information that they may not intend to (why, apparently, Versed gained its reputation as a "truth drug").
Just one more thing you need to be aware of about Versed.
Versed is only given for one reason
posted by generalpract on 24 Dec 2010 at 9:35 pm
Versed is only given for one reason: to make you forget..it does nothing for pain and there are many better drugs to reduce anxiety. I personally know a lot of physicians and none would want Versed (midazolam)...too many patients have long-term memory damage from this drug.......
Versed Served Up Agony For Months
posted by Cranky on 27 Apr 2011 at 6:12 am
I am just one more person who got this drug, "to relax" me before surgery. That is not informed consent. I would NEVER have agreed to an amnesia drug. However, in my months of anger, anxiety, and nightmares, one bright spot did emerge. (thank you posters here) In my job, I have access to highly private and sensitive information. Some of it is about people working in the very hospital where I was. I almost hope I got "chatty" in the eight hours of chemically suppressed memory. This is mean and very unlike me, but I am so angry I don't much care. Gosh: I wonder if I could have divulged ugly details of one of their chief surgeon's very messy divorce. Shame on them and shame on me. But after being lied to and dehumanized, I am at least certain I will NEVER step foot in that hospital again for any reason. And if you work in an area where you DO have access to people's private and supposedly confidential information, don't ever agree to this drug. You will torture yourself wondering if you said something awful and have no memory of it. No, I'm not proud of my mean spirited little island of defense: "don't blame me, it was the drug you didn't tell me about".
Oh yeah, they also "forgot" to tell me about my respiratory crisis. And then the medical community wonders why so many patients are so very angry. Versed and its pushers earned our angst. And THEIR loss of privacy, possibly.
Given Versed Without Consent
posted by mike on 12 July 2011 at 5:33 pm
I specifically told my gastro doc that I didn't want Versed since so many of my nurse friends have horror stories about this drug. Just before my procedure, an arrogant nurse told me that "everyone gets Versed" and argued with me about my choice. Without any consideration for my consent, she started to push the Versed into my IV and I grabbed her hand, but she tried to inject the rest. The test was never done and by the time my double vision cleared, my heart was racing and everyone was in a panic...the endo suite was a wreck. I have never been violent, but I remember holding the nurse by the hair and punching her repeatedly in the face....evidently for quite some time. Everyone kept telling me not to worry (she was pretty banged up), it was her fault for violating my wishes. I had my hand x-rayed and got an appointment for the hand clinic. This was terrifying for me; the nurse was home for 2 weeks and nobody would tell me how badly she was hurt..just that it wasn't my fault. Nice drug. The doc told me that she needed some sense knocked into her..I felt badly until I had the Versed nightmares. I found out that she had a broken zygoma(?) some bone in her face.
Recourse
posted by Pam Carroll on 11 Aug 2011 at 4:33 pm
I hear more and more horror stories to go along with mine and wonder what can be done to stop this abuse. I had an upper scope and would have had no idea what I was given if I didn't ask as she was plunging the drug into my IV. I woke angry and combative and not at all happy I had conversations and did not remember them. I had memory issues for a few days. Two weeks later I get scheduled for colonoscopy. I tell Dr office no versed, I tell hospital admitting no versed, I tell pre op nurse no versed and she enters into my record as allergy and writes it on my alert bracelet. I tell endo nurse no versed. Both her and I tell the doctor I don't want it and explain why. He threatens to cancel test and is angry. Talks me into consenting to small amount given slowly. After being pumped full of 8mg I wake up in horrible pain for half the procedure. I feel violated and tricked. I asked doctor why he hurt me and all he can say is he did good by me and I received fair amount of medication. It was so brutal I had to go to ER and spend two days on pain killers. What can be done to stop this patient abuse with versed?
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