I.V. MIDAZOLAM AS AN INDUCTION AGENT FOR ANAESTHESIA: A STUDY IN VOLUNTEERS

The central nervous and cardiovascular effects of midazolam 0.15 mg kg−1 were studied in 20 healthy, unpremedicated volunteers (10 male and 10 female). No important side-effects were noted and the venous tolerance to midazolam was excellent. Three minutes after injection mean systolic arterial pressure decreased from 121±(SEM) 2 mm Hg to 115±(SEM) 2 mm Hg and diastolic pressure from 78±2 to 70±2 mm Hg (P <0.05), and these effects persisted for at least 20 mm. Heart rate increased from 77±4 beat mm−1 to 90±3 and 88±3 beat mm−1 1 and 3 mm after the injection (P <0.05). Anterograde amnesia (40±3 min duration) and drowsiness (lasting 128±23 mm) were observed in all subjects. Loss of the eyelash reflex and apnoea were observed more often in the male group than in the female subjects. Midazolam 0.15 mg kg−1 was not sufficient to induce anaesthesia reliably in healthy unpretnedicated volunteers.