The Pharmaceutical Future of Remimazolam as Compared to Propofol and Midazolam: A Literature Review

Abstract

Introduction: Remimazolam is an ultra-short-acting benzodiazepine with a predictable and quick recovery that was FDA approved in 2020. As a relatively new medication, it is not as mainstream as other sedatives such as propofol or midazolam. This research aims to highlight the differences, benefits, and drawbacks of remimazolam in comparison to other short-term sedatives in order to bring greater awareness, and to consolidate the current knowledge of the effects of remimazolam.

Methods: The PubMed database was used to search for current relevant research to review. The search terms used were: "remimazolam", "midazolam", "propofol", and procedural sedation. The search also used qualifiers using only publications in English and published within the last five years. This query yielded 26 articles which were reviewed for content and relevance.

Results: Sixteen of the reviewed studies resulted in common themes suggesting remimazolam to be an effective alternative for procedural sedation with fewer adverse effects. Primarily, remimazolam is observed to have decreased procedural hypotension, bradycardia, and injection site pain. With no studies demonstrating an increased frequency of bradycardia, remimazolam is theorized to be superior to propofol in respect to sedation-associated bradycardia. One specific study notes a 14% decrease in frequency of bradycardia compared to propofol. Further benefits of remimazolam over propofol include the availability of an effective and reliable antidote, flumazenil.

Conclusion: In being that remimazolam has primarily been used and studied in short-term sedation, we can only confidently conclude remimazolam's safety in these settings. There is little research being done in the way of ICU sedation or general anesthesia, but with the relatively similar, or decreased rates of adverse events with remimazolam, we suspect an increase in clinical research of remimazolam in these settings. With continued robust research, remimazolam could become more widely accepted as a safe alternative to current sedatives.