Midazolam Side Effects

Some of the most common side effects of midazolam include nausea, vomiting, and a slow heart rate. In most cases, side effects of the drug are minor and either don't require treatment or can easily be treated by you or your healthcare provider. There are, however, a number of potentially serious midazolam side effects that should be reported to a healthcare provider right away, such as difficulty breathing, an irregular heart rhythm, or signs of an allergic reaction.

 

An Introduction to Midazolam Side Effects

As with any medicine, side effects are possible with midazolam (Versed®). However, not everyone who takes the medication will experience side effects. In fact, most people tolerate it quite well. If side effects do occur, in most cases, they are minor and either require no treatment or are easily treated by you or your healthcare provider.
 
(This article covers many, but not all, of the possible side effects with midazolam. Your healthcare provider can discuss a more complete list of midazolam side effects with you.)
 

Common Midazolam Side Effects

Midazolam has been studied thoroughly in clinical trials in which the side effects of a group of people taking the drug are documented and compared to another group not taking the medicine. As a result, it is possible to see what side effects occur, how often they appear, and how they compare to the group not taking the medicine.
 
In these studies, the most common side effects of midazolam (when injected into a muscle or through an IV) included:
 
  • Tenderness at the IV site (when midazolam is given by IV) -- up to 5.6 percent
  • Pain during the IV -- up to 5 percent
  • Hiccups -- up to 3.9 percent
  • Pain in the muscle (when injected directly into a muscle) -- up to 3.7 percent
  • Nausea -- up to 2.8 percent
  • Redness at the IV site -- up to 2.6 percent
  • Vomiting -- up to 2.6 percent
  • Drowsiness -- up to 1.2 percent.
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When midazolam is taken by mouth (using midazolam syrup) in children, common side effects included:
 
  • Vomiting -- in up to 11 percent of children
  • Nausea -- up to 5 percent
  • Agitation -- up to 2 percent
  • A slow heart rate (bradycardia) -- up to 2 percent.
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(Midazolam Side Effects Continued: Page 2)
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Written by/reviewed by: Kristi Monson, PharmD; Arthur Schoenstadt, MD
Last reviewed by: Kristi Monson, PharmD;