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A study of the effectiveness of oral midazolam as a dental pre‐operative sedative and hypnotic
Author(s) -
Marshall William R.,
Weaver Bryan D.,
McCutcheon Peter
Publication year - 1999
Publication title -
special care in dentistry
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.328
H-Index - 41
eISSN - 1754-4505
pISSN - 0275-1879
DOI - 10.1111/j.1754-4505.1999.tb01395.x
Subject(s) - midazolam , medicine , sedation , sedative , dose , anesthesia , hypnotic , adverse effect , immediate release , amnesia , onset of action , oral administration , pharmacology , psychiatry
Orally administered Midazolam at dosages of 0.5, 0.6, and 0.75 mg/kg was used with 34 healthy, uncooperative pediatric dental patients. Effective pre‐operative sedation occurred within approximately 15 minutes with a 30‐ to 40‐mlnute duration of action. Blood pressure and respiration remained stable throughout. The numbers and types of procedures performed were dependent on the degree of sedation, the behavior of the patient, the experience of the operator, and the operator's ability to administer the medication. The ideal dosage appears to be 0.6 mg/kg, with an average change of 1.43 Frankel Units in behavior modification. A dosage of 0.5 mg/kg appears to yield erratic results, while a dosage of 0.75 mg/kg offers little advantage with greater potential for adverse reactions. The oral administration of Midazolam for pediatric patients with extreme behavioral problems, such as Attention Deficit Hyperactive Disorder, was of little advantage and may produce an idiosyncratic reaction. Midazolam's quick onset and short duration of action, coupled with its ideal properties of sedation, relaxation, and amnesia, offer a viable alternative for treating the anxious, uncooperative pediatric dental patient .