Midazolam

[midaz′əlam] a short-acting benzodiazepine central nervous system depressant.

Midazolam is indicated for the short term treatment of insomnia in patients who did not adequately react to other (benzodiazepines) hypnotics, and who have persistent trouble in falling asleep. Because of midazolam’s extremely short duration, midazolam is not used for patients who have trouble staying asleep through the night, moderate to long acting benzodiazepines like temazepam, nitrazepam, flunitrazepam and lormetazepam are used for those purposes. Like other benzodiazepines, midazolam produces a decrease in delta activity, though the effect of benzodiazepines on delta may not be mediated via benzodiazepine receptors. Delta activity is an indicator of depth of sleep within non-REM sleep; it is thought to reflect sleep quality, with lower levels of delta sleep reflecting poorer sleep. Thus midazolam and other benzodiazepines cause a deterioration in sleep quality. Cyproheptadine may be superior to nitrazepam in the treatment of insomnia as it enhances sleep quality based on EEG studies.

Side Effects: Residual ‘hangover’ effects after nighttime administration of midazolam such as sleepiness, impaired psychomotor and cognitive functions may persist into the next day which may impair the ability of users to drive safely.

Midazolam (aka Versed):  Two milligrams administered intravenously at 3 a.m.  Two more milligrams administered intravenously at 7:30 a.m.

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