title: Buccal midazolam for agitation on psychiatric intensive care wards.
abstract: Midazolam is a benzodiazepine known to be effective as a treatment for status epilepticus and for rapid tranquillisation. Buccal midazolam has recently become available in the UK. We introduced it as a treatment option for rapid tranquillisation on our intensive care wards. Buccal midazolam was found to be effective and well tolerated. Target levels of sedation were achieved in nearly 70% of subjects within half an hour. Activity was evident within 15 minutes. Over-sedation occurred in only one patient at one time point. There were no cases of respiratory depression. Buccal midazolam deserves further investigation as a non-invasive treatment option in rapid tranquillisation.
authors.affiliation: Pharmacy Department, Maudsley Hospital, King's College, London, UK.
authors.forename: David
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Taylor
authors.forename: Chike
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Okocha
authors.forename: Carol
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Paton
authors.forename: Shubalade
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Smith
authors.forename: Anne
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Connolly
keywords: Buccal; Emergency; Midazolam; Rapid tranquillisation