Midazolam is a short-acting depressant of the benzodiazepine class, specifically an imidazobenzodiazepine. Patented in 1974 and adopted for medical use in 1982, it is distinguished from other benzodiazepines by its rapid onset and brief duration of action. It is widely used clinically for procedural sedation, anesthesia, seizure management, and acute agitation, and is included on the World Health Organization's List of Essential Medicines. Like all benzodiazepines, it carries a risk of dependence with repeated use.
Midazolam molecular structure diagram from the DrugsPRO substance library.
Also known as: Versed, Hypnovel, Dormicum, Buccolam, Nayzilam, Seizalam
Classification
Chemical: Benzodiazepine
Chemical: Medicine
Psychoactive: Depressant
Tag: Anxiolytic
Tag: GABAergic
Tag: Habit-Forming
Tag: Imidazobenzodiazepine
Tag: Muscle Relaxant
Effects
Sedation
Muscle Relaxation
Seizure Suppression
Headache
Physical Fatigue
Respiratory Depression
Confusion
Irritability
Anxiety Suppression
Amnesia
Emotion Suppression
Memory Suppression
Disinhibition
Dulled Perception
Routes of Administration
Oral
Dosage
Heavy: 30+ mg
Light: 1 – 5 mg
Common: 5 – 15 mg
Strong: 15 – 30 mg
Threshold: 0.5 mg
Duration
Onset: 0.5-1 h
Comeup: 0.5-1 h
Peak: 20-60 h
Offset: 120-240 h
After Effects: 180-360 h
Total Duration: 120-360 h
Intravenous
Dosage
Heavy: 10+ mg
Light: 1 – 2 mg
Common: 2 – 4 mg
Strong: 4 – 5 mg
Threshold: 0.5 mg
Duration
Onset: 0.07-0.1 h
Peak: 5-20 h
Offset: 0.5-1.5 h
After Effects: 120-360 h
Total Duration: 60-180 h
Insufflated
Dosage
Heavy: 25 mg
Light: 3 – 7 mg
Common: 7 – 15 mg
Strong: 15 – 25 mg
Threshold: 3 mg
Duration
Onset: 0.02-0.08 h
After Effects: 1-12 h
Intramuscular
Dosage
Heavy: 25+ mg
Light: 3 – 5 mg
Common: 5 – 12 mg
Strong: 12 – 25 mg
Threshold: 0.5 mg
Duration
Onset: 0.17-0.33 h
After Effects: 180-360 h
Peak: 30-60 h
Offset: 90-180 h
Total Duration: 90-360 h
Rectal
Dosage
Heavy: 20 mg
Light: 3 – 7 mg
Common: 7 – 12 mg
Strong: 12 – 20 mg
Threshold: 3 mg
Duration
Onset: 0.25-0.42 h
After Effects: 1-12 h
Harm Reduction
Check interactions before mixing substances, pay attention to dose spacing and hydration, and treat all dosage guidance as approximate rather than guaranteed safe.
Sources
Substance data is aggregated from the following public harm-reduction and reference sources.
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Midazolam - DrugsPRO stoffveiledning
Midazolam: Midazolam is a short-acting depressant of the benzodiazepine class, specifically an imidazobenzodiazepine. Patented in 1974 and adopted for medical use in 1982, it is distinguished from other benzodiazepines by its rapid onset and brief duration of action. It is widely used clinically for
