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What does it do?

Midazolam is used to make you calm or sleepy before a medical or dental treatment.

Before you start

  • Tell your doctor if you have heart or liver problems, sleep apnoea or a head injury.
  • Tell your doctor if you are pregnant, planning to become pregnant, or breastfeeding.

How should you take it?

Take midazolam as directed with a glass of water, usually 30 minutes before the treatment.

Can you take other medicines?

Some medicines available without a prescription may react with midazolam including:

  • some antihistamines (may be in anti-allergy, anti-nausea and cough/cold medicines)
  • fluconazole (e.g. Diflucan®) or miconazole (e.g. Daktarin Oral Gel®)

Tell your pharmacist or doctor about all medicines or treatments that you may be taking, including vitamins, herbal products (e.g. St John's wort, valerian) or recreational drugs.

What side effects might you notice?

Side EffectsRecommended action

Slow or shallow breathing, hard to wake up

Trouble with speech or swallowing

Tell your nurse or doctor immediately

Mood changes, agitation, unusual behaviour or thinking, loss of coordination

Tell your doctor

Drowsiness, dizziness, trouble concentrating, confusion

May continue for up to 6 hours – don’t drive while feeling this way

Headache, memory loss

Hiccups, nausea, vomiting

Tell your doctor if troublesome

If you notice any other effects, discuss them with your doctor or pharmacist.

Other information:

  • Midazolam may make you sleepy or dizzy and make it dangerous to drive, operate machinery or do other activities that require you to be alert. Arrange for someone to drive you home after your treatment. Avoid any alcohol or recreational drugs as they can increase these effects.
  • If you still feel sleepy the next day, do not drive or operate machinery.
  • Avoid grapefruit, grapefruit juice or sour/Seville oranges on the day of your treatment as they may increase the amount of midazolam in your body and make you more sleepy.

This leaflet contains important, but not all, information about this medicine.

Prepared by the MyMedicines Committee at Christchurch Hospital, Te Whatu Ora - Waitaha, New Zealand. March 2023

For more general information about this sheet and its contents, see: What does a My Medicines sheet cover?

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About My Medicines

My Medicines Patient Information Leaflets (PILs) contain important, but not all, information about the medicines they describe.

For more information about the sheets, see: What does a My Medicines sheet cover?

My Medicines is developed by a team at Te Whatu Ora – Waitaha. Our team is made up of doctors, pharmacists, and a non-medical person to help us keep to plain language. We also discuss our information with specialist health professionals or groups when needed