Midazolam Viatris (Midazolam)
Complete patient guide for uses, dosage, side effects, and safety information
Prescription RequiredQuick Facts
What Is Midazolam Viatris Used For?
Midazolam Viatris contains the active ingredient midazolam and belongs to a group of medicines called benzodiazepines. It works by acting on brain chemicals to produce sedation, sleep, memory loss, and/or anesthesia depending on the dose.
Primary Uses
Midazolam Viatris is used as a sedative during short medical procedures, given by injection before operations to produce sleepiness and relieve anxiety, and as a continuous infusion for patients in intensive care units who need sedation over several hours or days.
How It Works
This medicine belongs to the benzodiazepine family and works by affecting brain chemicals. Depending on the dose given, it can cause sedation, hypnosis, amnesia, and/or anesthesia.
Professional Administration: Midazolam Viatris is only given by doctors trained to use this medicine, and your progress will be closely monitored during treatment.
How to Take Midazolam Viatris
Midazolam Viatris is administered only by healthcare professionals in medical settings. It may be given as an injection into a vein or muscle, or through an infusion set in intensive care units.
Dosage Instructions
Your doctor will determine the exact dose you need based on the medical procedure you’re having, your age, weight, and general health. Elderly patients may need to receive smaller doses. The medicine may be given once before a procedure or continuously by infusion for intensive care patients.
Professional Administration Only: This medication is only administered by trained medical professionals – you cannot take it yourself.
Available Tablet Strengths
Side Effects
Like all medications, this medicine can cause side effects. Most are mild and temporary, but some require medical attention.
Common Side Effects
These side effects occur relatively frequently and usually don’t require emergency care:
- Drowsiness, tiredness, reduced alertness
- Dizziness, unsteadiness with risk of falls and fractures
- Loss of memory, confusion, lack of concentration, lethargy
- Headache, hangover feeling in the morning
- Slurred speech
- Unpleasant dreams
- Blurred vision
- Pain, redness or hardness at injection site
- Muscle stiffness or vein inflammation
- Coughing, hiccups
- Constipation
- Nausea/feeling sick with or without vomiting
Seek immediate medical attention if you experience:
- Difficulty breathing or wheezing
- Changes in pulse rate and blood pressure
- Sudden anxiety, excitation or agitation, involuntary muscle movements
- Hallucinations, unusual mood or delusions
- Severe sleep disturbances
- Allergic reaction with rash, itching, hives, swelling of face, lips, tongue causing difficulty swallowing or breathing
- Withdrawal symptoms including withdrawal convulsions
Important Warnings
There are several important safety considerations before receiving Midazolam Viatris. Make sure your doctor knows about all your medical conditions and medications.
Who Should Not Take Midazolam Viatris
Do not use if you are allergic to midazolam or any ingredients, have severe muscle weakness (myasthenia gravis), acute narrow angle glaucoma, are suffering from shock, coma or acute alcoholic intoxication, or are less than eight years of age.
Medical Conditions to Discuss
Tell your doctor if you have liver, kidney, heart or lung disease, high or low blood pressure, mental disorders including depression, psychosis or schizophrenia, epilepsy, or a history of alcohol or drug abuse.
Pregnancy and Breastfeeding
Midazolam Viatris is not recommended during pregnancy, especially in the third trimester or during labor, unless no safer alternative exists. It can cause serious effects in newborns including irregular heart rates, muscle weakness, low body temperature, and breathing difficulties. If breastfeeding, pump and discard breast milk for 4-8 hours after receiving the medication and monitor your baby for excessive sedation or poor feeding.
High-Risk Patients: In elderly or high-risk patients, death has rarely occurred due to heart attack or slowdown of heart and lungs, especially in adults over 60 with pre-existing heart and lung conditions.
Drug Interactions
Many medications can interact with Midazolam Viatris and affect how it works. Always tell your doctor about all medicines you’re taking.
- Other sleeping tablets, sedatives or tranquillizers
- Anesthetics
- Fluvoxamine, nefazodone and other depression medicines
- Seizure medicines like sodium valproate
- Antihistamines for allergies or colds
- Pain relievers
- Muscle relaxants like chlorzoxazone
- Cimetidine for ulcers
- Disulfiram for alcohol abuse
- Antibiotics like erythromycin and clarithromycin
- Heart medicines like diltiazem, verapamil and atorvastatin
- Antifungal medicines like ketoconazole, fluconazole, posaconazole and itraconazole
- HIV medicines like ritonavir and saquinavir
- Bicalutamide for prostate cancer
- Aprepitant for nausea and vomiting
- Goldenseal complementary medicine
Alcohol & Driving
Midazolam Viatris can significantly impair your ability to drive and increases risks when combined with alcohol.
Alcohol
Do not consume any alcohol for at least 12 hours after receiving Midazolam Viatris. Alcohol increases the risk of falls and fractures due to dizziness and unsteadiness.
Driving and Operating Machinery
Do not drive or operate machinery until you know how Midazolam Viatris affects you. The medication can cause drowsiness, dizziness, fatigue, confusion, and affect alertness and memory.
Storage
Midazolam Viatris will be stored by healthcare professionals in the pharmacy or hospital ward. It is kept in a cool, dry place where temperature stays below 25°C and protected from light. It should not be stored in the refrigerator.
Overdose Information
If you think you have received too much Midazolam Viatris, you may feel drowsy, tired, confused, dizzy, weak, or become unconscious. When combined with similar medicines, overdose effects can be serious and potentially fatal. Immediately tell your doctor or nurse, call the Poisons Information Centre (13 11 26 in Australia), contact your doctor, or go to the nearest hospital emergency department, even if you feel fine.
Frequently Asked Questions
The onset time depends on how it’s given and your individual response. Your doctor will monitor you closely to ensure the medication is working effectively for your procedure.
Midazolam Viatris can cause physical dependency, especially if you have a history of drug or alcohol abuse when used long-term. Your doctor may reduce the dose gradually to overcome this effect.
No, do not consume any alcohol for at least 12 hours after receiving Midazolam Viatris. Alcohol increases the risk of falls and fractures due to dizziness and unsteadiness.
Elderly patients may need smaller doses and require closer monitoring. In elderly or high-risk patients, serious complications including death have rarely occurred, especially in those over 60 with pre-existing heart and lung conditions.
You may experience drowsiness, dizziness, confusion, and memory loss. Do not drive or operate machinery until you know how the medication affects you, and avoid alcohol for at least 12 hours.
Midazolam Viatris is not recommended during pregnancy, especially in the third trimester or during labor, unless no safer alternative exists. It can cause serious effects in newborns including breathing difficulties and withdrawal symptoms.
Tell your doctor immediately if you experience serious side effects like difficulty breathing, changes in heart rate, severe anxiety, or allergic reactions. For less serious side effects that worry you, speak to your doctor.
Important Disclaimer
This information is intended for general educational purposes only and should not be considered medical advice. Always consult your healthcare provider or pharmacist before starting, stopping, or changing any medication.
If you think you may have a medical emergency, call your doctor or emergency services immediately.