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Review
. 2020 Jan 13:14:2632352419895527.
doi: 10.1177/2632352419895527. eCollection 2020.

Midazolam: an essential palliative care drug

Eric Prommer  1
Affiliations
Review

Midazolam: an essential palliative care drug

Eric Prommer. Palliat Care Soc Pract. .

Abstract

Midazolam is a commonly used benzodiazepine in palliative care and is considered one of the four essential drugs needed for the promotion of quality care in dying patients. Acting on the benzodiazepine receptor, it promotes the action of gamma-aminobutyric acid. Gamma-aminobutyric acid action promotes sedative, anxiolytic, and anticonvulsant properties. Midazolam has a faster onset and shorter duration of action than other benzodiazepines such as diazepam and lorazepam lending itself to greater flexibility in dosing than other benzodiazepines. The kidneys excrete midazolam and its active metabolite. Metabolism occurs in the liver by the P450 system. This article examines the pharmacology, pharmacodynamics, and clinical uses of midazolam in palliative care.

Keywords: agitation; benzodiazepines; delirium; dyspnea; gamma-aminobutyric acid; imidazole ring; insomnia; midazolam; palliative sedation; seizures.

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Conflict of interest statement

Conflict of interest statement: The authors declared no potential conflicts of interest with respect to the research, authorship, and/or publication of this article.

Figures

Figure 1.
Figure 1.
Structure Midazolam.
See this image and copyright information in PMC

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