Sedatives: Benzodiazepines Flashcards
Diazepam (Valium)
Onset: 1-5 minutes (IV)
Peak effects: 15 minutes (IV)
Duration: 15-60 minutes
Half-life: 20-50 hours
MOA: Benzodiazepines bind to type A GABA receptors within the brain, potentiating the GABA effects. Increased GABA levels cause sedation. Benzos have hypnotic, anxiolytic, and anticonvulsant effects.
Class: Anticonvulsant and sedative
Description: A benzodiazepine used as an anticonvulsant, sedative, and hypnotic
Indications: major motor seizures, status epilepticus, premedication before cardioversion, skeletal muscle relaxant, and acute anxiety states
Contraindications: known hypersensitivity
Precautions: Diazepam is short acting, so further doses may be required. *Antidote: Flumazenil (Romazicon)
Side effects: respiratory depression, hypotension, drowsiness, headache, amnesia, blurred vision, N/V
Route: IV, IM, rectally
Adult Dose: Status Epilepticus- 5-10mg IV
Premedication Before Cardioversion: 5-15mg IV
Acute Anxiety- 2-5mg IV, IM
Peds Dose: Status Epilepticus- 0.1-0.2 mg/kg
Lorazepam (Ativan)
Onset: 1-5 minutes (IV)
Peak effects: 15-20 minutes (IV)
Duration: 6-8 hours
Half-life: 10-20 hours
MOA: Benzodiazepines bind to type A GABA receptors within the brain, potentiating the GABA effects. Increased GABA levels cause sedation. Benzos have hypnotic, anxiolytic, and anticonvulsant effects. Lorazepam has a shorter half-life, and has a longer duration of action of seizures than Diazepam (Valium).
Class: Anticonvulsant and sedative
Description: A benzodiazepine used as an anticonvulsant, sedative, and hypnotic
Indications: major motor seizures, status epilepticus, premedication before cardioversion, acute anxiety states
Contraindications: known hypersensitivity
Precautions: Lorazepam should be diluted with NS or D5W prior to IV administration. *Note: antidote is Flumazenil (Romazicon)
Side effects: hypotension, drowsiness, headache, amnesia, respiratory depression, blurred vision, N/V
Route: IV, IM, IN, rectal
Adult Dose: 0.5-2.0 mg IV; may be increased to 1.0-4.0 mg IV
Peds Dose: 0.05-0.10 mg/kg (MAX dose 4mg)
Midazolam (Versed)
Onset: 3-5 minutes (IV)
Peak effects: 20-60 minutes
Duration: less than 2 hours (IV)
Half-life: 1-4 hours
MOA: Benzodiazepines bind to type A GABA receptors within the brain, potentiating the GABA effects. Increased GABA levels cause sedation. Benzos have hypnotic, anxiolytic, and anticonvulsant effects. Midazolam is short-acting, and 3-4 times more potent than diazepam.
Class: sedative, anticonvulsant, hypnotic
Description: A benzodiazepine with strong hypnotic and amnestic properties
Indications: seizures, premedication before cardioversion
Contraindications: known hypersensitivity, narrow-angle glaucoma, shock, depressed V.S., alcoholic coma
Precautions: Midazolam is more potent than other benzodiazepines. *Note: antidote is Flumazenil (Romazicon)
Side effects: laryngospasm, bronchospasm, dyspnea, respiratory depression and arrest, drowsiness, amnesia, AMS, bradycardia, tachycardia, PVCs, retching
Route: IV, IN, PO
Adult Dose: 1.0-2.5 mg IV
Peds Dose: 0.03 mg/kg
