In Collaboration With

THERAPEUTICS

Brands

• Versed
• see index for additional brand names

Generic?

• No

Class

• Benzodiazepine (hypnotic)

Commonly Prescribed For

• (bold for FDA approved)
• Sedation in pediatric patients
• Sedation (adjunct to anesthesia)
• Pre-operative anxiolytic
• Drug-induced amnesia

How The Drug Works

• Binds to benzodiazepine receptors at the GABA-A ligand-gated chloride channel complex
• Enhances the inhibitory effects of GABA
• Boosts chloride conductance through GABA-regulated channels
• Inhibitory actions in sleep centers may provide sedative hypnotic effects

How Long Until It Works

• Intravenous injection: onset 3–5 minutes
• Intramuscular injection: onset 15 minutes, peak 30–60 minutes

If It Works

• Patients generally recover 2–6 hours after awakening

If It Doesn’t Work

• Increase the dose
• Switch to another agent

Best Augmenting Combos for Partial Response or Treatment-Resistance

• Augmenting agents have not been adequately studied

Tests

• None for healthy individuals