Midazolam Hydrochloride, Oral/Injection mih-DAY-soh-lam hy-droh-KLOR-ide

What are other names for this medicine?

Type of medicine: anesthetic; benzodiazepine; sedative hypnotic

Generic and brand names: midazolam hydrochloride, injection; midazolam hydrochloride, oral

What is this medicine used for?

This medicine is given by injection (shots), IV infusion, or by mouth 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 medicine is 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, including nonprescription 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.

If you need emergency care, surgery, or dental work, tell the healthcare provider or dentist you are taking this medicine.

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.

Life-threatening (Report these to your healthcare provider right away). If you cannot reach your healthcare provider right away, get emergency medical care or call 911 for help): Allergic reaction (hives; itching; rash; trouble breathing; chest pain or tightness in your chest; swelling of your lips, tongue, and throat).

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 alprazolam (Xanax), clonazepam (Klonopin), clorazepate (Tranxene), diazepam (Valium), lorazepam (Ativan), and oxazepam
• antibiotics such as clarithromycin (Biaxin, Biaxin XL), erythromycin (Ery-Tabs, E.E.S.), isoniazid, rifabutin (Mycobutin), and rifampin (Rifadin, Rimactane)
• antidepressants such as amitriptyline, amoxapine, clomipramine (Anafranil), desipramine (Norpramin), doxepin, fluoxetine (Prozac), fluvoxamine (Luvox), imipramine (Tofranil), nefazodone, nortriptyline (Pamelor), paroxetine (Paxil), protriptyline (Vivactil), sertraline (Zoloft), and trimipramine (Surmontil)
• antifungal medicines such as ketoconazole (Nizoral), fluconazole (Diflucan), and itraconazole (Sporanox)
• antihistamines such as diphenhydramine (Benadryl), hydroxyzine (Vistaril), and chlorpheniramine (Chlor-Trimeton)
• anti-HIV medicines such as atazanavir (Reyataz), delavirdine (Rescriptor), indinavir (Crixivan), nelfinavir (Viracept), nevirapine (Viramune), ritonavir (Norvir), and saquinavir (Invirase)
• antinausea medicines such as prochlorperazine and promethazine (Phenergan)
• antipsychotic medicines such as chlorpromazine, clozapine (Clozaril), fluphenazine, haloperidol (Haldol), loxapine (Loxitane), olanzapine (Zyprexa), perphenazine, pimozide (Orap), risperidone (Risperdal), thioridazine, and trifluoperazine
• antiseizure medicines such as carbamazepine (Tegretol), phenytoin (Dilantin), and primidone (Mysoline)
• barbiturates such as butabarbital (Butisol), pentobarbital (Nembutal), and phenobarbital
• bronchodilators such as aminophylline, dyphylline (Lufyllin), and theophylline
• heart medicines such as amiodarone (Cordarone, Pacerone), diltiazem (Cardizem, Cartia XT), quinidine, and verapamil (Calan, Isoptin)
• MAO inhibitor antidepressants such as phenelzine (Nardil), tranylcypromine (Parnate), selegiline (Eldepryl), and isocarboxazid (Marplan) (Do not take an MAO inhibitor and this medicine within 14 days of each other.)
• muscle relaxants such as cyclobenzaprine (Flexeril), carisoprodol (Soma), tizanidine (Zanaflex), methocarbamol (Robaxin), and baclofen (Lioresal)
• narcotic painkillers such as codeine, fentanyl (Duragesic, Actiq), hydrocodone/acetaminophen (Vicodin, Lortab), meperidine (Demerol), morphine (MS Contin, Oramorph SR), oxycodone/acetaminophen (Percocet, Tylox), oxycodone (OxyContin), oxycodone/acetaminophen (Percocet, Tylox), and pentazocine (Talwin)
• natural remedies such as dong quai, echinacea, gingko, goldenseal, gotu kola, kava, melatonin, St. John's wort, and valerian
• sleep medicines such as chloral hydrate, butabarbital (Butisol), eszopiclone (Lunesta), flurazepam, temazepam (Restoril), triazolam (Halcion), zaleplon (Sonata), and zolpidem (Ambien),
• stomach medicine such as cimetidine (Tagamet, Tagamet HB) and omeprazole (Prilosec)

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.

If you are not sure if your medicines might interact, ask your pharmacist or healthcare provider. 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.

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.