Midazolam and Anxiety: What Users Say

• Ver...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• August 16, 2020

Midazolam for Light Sedation "Had a paradoxical reaction before hernia repair - was supposed to be light sedation but instead had to be put under to finish the surgery. Had anxiety attacks for years after. Had numerous operations - before and since - with nothing but local, and they were fine. Two hand surgeries involved Fentanyl, which I have no issue with. For me, Versed is the PCP of benzodiazepines."

• She...
• March 23, 2017

Midazolam for Light Anesthesia "Had Versed for cataract surgery. OK post-surgery but woke up from nap afterward with uncontrollable emotions, terrifying. It's 3 1/2 months later and I'm still having occasional flooding of anxiety and depression. Also had memory problems for 2 months. Horrific experience, I will never be given this drug again."

• 199...
• August 9, 2016

Midazolam for Light Sedation "Went in to get a celiac plexus block. Was given three doses of Versed. Kept telling the docs that I was fully awake, aware, and very anxious because what they were doing hurt considerably. I have been put under for multiple procedures and know the point when you are starting to go 'out.' This never occurred. They just kept repeating that I was fine and I would 'forget everything.' To which I kept reiterating that I would not and the Versed wasn't working. They might as well have given me water in my IV. I ended up jumping off of the table and had to leave. My main doctor's office that referred me to have the procedure kept telling me that there's no way I would remember anything. Wish that was the case. Would not recommend."

• Mik...
• Taken for 1 to 2 years
• November 10, 2016

Midazolam for Light Anesthesia "I received medazolam, commonly called Versed, for my first colonoscopies. Note, Versed is an amnesia drug they use so you 'forget' how bad they treat you and that you were in pain rather than relieve the trauma. I suffered anxiety, long-term amnesia, flashbacks, and a PTSD-type reaction to the use of this drug. Not only did I lose the ability to lay down memory properly long-term, but the patches (it kind of feels like the connections are there of the bad experience, you feel the trauma, but you can't pin it on an exact block of memory) of the trauma remain. I highly recommend the non-amnesic fentanyl instead for colonoscopies."

• Ser...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• December 22, 2020

Midazolam for Light Anesthesia "It is my goal in life to get this awful drug off the market. I was given way too much of this, and I am permanently disabled with chronic depression, anxiety, and post-traumatic stress disorder. Do your research on Versed, and you’ll see what I mean, and always tell an anesthesiologist that you don't want it so they don’t give it to you. They also try to lie and say it’s a pain reliever, it’s not. All Versed does is remove your memory, and unfortunately, sometimes that is permanent."

• Lis...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• August 14, 2016

Midazolam for Light Sedation "I had 3 surgeries within 3 months as a teen. This drug is what the pre-op physician gave me 1-2 minutes prior to wheeling me back into surgery. It is supposed to calm nerves, but it had the opposite effect for me. I was very nervous about the surgery, so I was given a syringe of it in my hand 1-2 minutes prior to them wheeling me back. It caused instant anxiety and impending feelings of doom. I was hyperventilating, blubbering, crying, freaking out as they put me to sleep. My surgeon was in tears and was petting my head to calm me. I ask for no IV pre-sedatives now."

• Bio...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• April 20, 2018

Midazolam for Light Anesthesia "Told the anesthesiologist not to give me Versed because it made me nauseous. I had been meditating and was very relaxed on the operating table awaiting my hip replacement. Suddenly, I became afraid, paranoid, and the last I remembered was trying to get off the table. I had prolonged amnesia, nausea, hiccups for 24 hours, and I cried and was anxious for a week afterwards. My records show I was given Versed despite telling them not to."

• Mgn...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• August 30, 2022

Midazolam for Light Anesthesia "My first ever surgery, an emergency abdominal surgery to remove a life-threatening colon mass. Because I was in pain, mortal danger, and uneducated, I allowed them to give me any drug they wanted. I came out of surgery wishing I had died instead. I’m anxious, I’m unable to sleep, and I’m a completely different person than I was before Versed. In a paranoid state, I tracked down one of my surgeons who took pity on me and said it looked like they gave me a heavy dose of Versed. He said he’s been a surgeon for 33 years and NEVER allowed Versed to be used on him. With his information, my new life makes sense. I experience memories and feelings of the surgery, which I shouldn’t, and I can’t tell what’s real or distorted. I’m powerless, terrified, and suicidal. And there’s no cure."

• Sad...
• July 13, 2021

For Light Sedation "I don’t usually like to complain about things, especially pharmaceuticals, but honestly, what the actual! I am a 5'0, 85-pound woman who usually can handle 0.5-1mg of Clonazepam, but it makes me loopy. During the gastroscope procedure, I was told I would be awake but feel sort of drunk and not remember the procedure. The nurse said, “we’ll administer the sedative now,” so I’m all “okay.” Scope goes in, and I’m gagging and admittedly a little anxious, waiting for the 4mg of Versed to kick in. Nothing. I was fully coherent, aware, anxious, and ADHD as always, and attempting to speak during the procedure. I remember it all, could have easily driven myself home. It wasn’t the worst procedure in the world, I’ve got a laundry list of medical traumas, so this was a walk in the park. But still, this drug had absolutely 0 effect on me. Other patients alongside me after the same procedure/dose were dead asleep!"

• Gal...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• November 1, 2021

For Light Anesthesia "I was given Midazolam to insert a port for cancer treatment. It didn't work at all, I felt the whole operation and experienced it with a lot of stress. It seems my heightened stress completely nullified the effects. I wish I had been given a general, terrible."

• Lot...
• October 7, 2019

For Light Anesthesia "INSOMNIA REBOUND? Had cataract surgery with IV midazolam and fentanyl. Conscious during the first stage (laser pulverization of my existing lens with a femtosecond laser, took 2 minutes). Anxious and conscious, somewhat unable to move, but could cooperate and not panic. No memory of the second stage (implanting new lens). The second night after surgery, I woke up at 3 and could not sleep -- had to get up and do stuff, unusual for me. I have been unusually anxious and suffering from 3 AM insomnia for the past ten days. The prior cataract surgery was done with Valium and a different opioid. I was more relaxed and semi-conscious and did not have post-op insomnia or agitation. I will ask for an alternative to Versed in the future. Was it the drug or the setting? The second surgery center was more crowded and harsh than the first."