Midazolam Hydrochloride, Injection

What are other names for this medicine?

Type of medicine: anesthetic; benzodiazepine; sedative hypnotic

Generic and brand names: midazolam hydrochloride, injection

What is this medicine used for?

This medicine is given by injection (shots) to relax you or make you drowsy before surgery or certain medical tests. It may be used for other conditions as determined by your healthcare provider.

What should my healthcare provider know before I take this medicine?

Before taking this medicine, tell your healthcare provider if you have ever had:

• an allergic reaction to any medicine
• a stroke
• depression or other mental illnesses
• glaucoma
• heart disease
• kidney or liver disease
• lung disease or breathing problems
• myasthenia gravis or other muscle or nerve disease

Females of childbearing age: This medicine is not usually given to pregnant women because it can harm the baby. If you are pregnant, tell your healthcare provider. Do not become pregnant during treatment with this medicine. If you become pregnant, contact your healthcare provider right away. Do not breast-feed while you are receiving this medicine.

How do I use it?

The injections are given in a hospital or surgery center by a healthcare provider. It should only be given where you can be monitored closely.

Before surgery or medical tests, do not take any medicines unless you check with your healthcare provider first. Do not drink alcohol before or after surgery. Do not take any medicines after receiving this medicine unless approved by your healthcare provider. This is especially important if you go home soon after the procedure.

What should I watch out for?

This medicine makes you drowsy and slows down your body's reactions. It may also affect your memory for a short time. If you go home the same day you have surgery, do not drive or operate machinery until the next day.

You may feel dizzy or faint when you get up quickly after sitting or lying down. Getting up slowly may help. Also, drinking alcohol may make it worse. Do not drink alcohol for at least 24 hours after taking the medicine or until the effects of the medicine have worn off.

What are the possible side effects?

Along with its needed effects, your medicine may cause some unwanted side effects. Some side effects may be very serious. Some side effects may go away as your body adjusts to the medicine. Tell your healthcare provider if you have any side effects that continue or get worse.

Serious: While you are receiving this medicine, you will be monitored by healthcare providers who will treat any serious side effects you may have.

Other: Confusion, anxiety, grogginess, slurred speech, headache, nausea, vomiting, pain or tenderness at the injection site, short-term memory loss, coughing, hiccups.

What products might interact with this medicine?

When you take this medicine with other medicines, it can change the way this or any of the other medicines work. Nonprescription medicines, vitamins, natural remedies, and certain foods may also interact. Using these products together might cause harmful side effects. Talk to your healthcare provider if you are taking:

• antianxiety medicines such as clonazepam (Klonopin), alprazolam (Xanax), clorazepate (Tranxene), diazepam (Valium), lorazepam (Ativan), and oxazepam (Serax)
• antibiotics such as erythromycin (E-Mycin, E.E.S., Ery-Tab, EryPed), clarithromycin (Biaxin, Biaxin XL), ciprofloxacin (Cipro), and norfloxacin (Noroxin)
• antifungal medicines such as ketoconazole (Nizoral), fluconazole (Diflucan), and itraconazole (Sporanox)
• anti-HIV medicines such as delavirdine (Rescriptor), indinavir (Crixivan), saquinavir (Fortovase), nelfinavir (Viracept), nevirapine (Viramune), ritonavir (Norvir), saquinavir (Fortovase, Invirase), amprenavir (Agenerase), and atazanavir (Reyataz)
• antiseizure medicines such as carbamazepine (Tegretol), phenobarbital, phenytoin (Dilantin), and primidone (Mysoline)
• barbiturates such as phenobarbital, butabarbital (Butisol), and pentobarbital (Nembutal)
• cimetidine (Tagamet, Tagamet HB)
• heart medicines such as amiodarone (Cordarone, Pacerone), diltiazem (Cardizem, Cartia XT), quinidine, and verapamil (Calan, Isoptin)
• herbal or dietary supplements such as kava, melatonin, gotu kola, St. John's wort, and valerian
• narcotic painkillers such as morphine (MS Contin, Oramorph SR, Roxanol), meperidine (Demerol), codeine, hydrocodone/acetaminophen (Vicodin, Lortab), oxycodone/acetaminophen (Percocet, Tylox), oxycodone (OxyContin), propoxyphene (Darvocet N-100), and fentanyl (Duragesic, Actiq)
• rifabutin (Mycobutin)
• rifampin (Rifadin, Rimactane)
• sleeping pills such as zolpidem (Ambien), butabarbital (Butisol), zaleplon (Sonata), eszopiclone (Lunesta), triazolam (Halcion), temazepam (Restoril), and flurazepam (Dalmane)
• zafirlukast (Accolate)

Do not eat grapefruit or drink grapefruit juice while taking this medicine. Grapefruit affects the way this medicine works and may increase the risk of side effects.

Keep a list of all your medicines with you. List all the prescription medicines, nonprescription medicines, supplements, natural remedies, and vitamins that you take. Be sure that you tell all healthcare providers who treat you about all the products you are taking.

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This advisory includes selected information only and may not include all side effects of this medicine or interactions with other medicines. Ask your healthcare provider or pharmacist for more information or if you have any questions.

Keep all medicines out of the reach of children.

Do not share medicines with other people.

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Published by RelayHealth.
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