rss
Gut 1986;27:190-195 doi:10.1136/gut.27.2.190
  • Research Article

Pharmacokinetics and pharmacodynamics of intravenous midazolam in patients with severe alcoholic cirrhosis.

  1. A J MacGilchrist,
  2. G G Birnie,
  3. A Cook,
  4. G Scobie,
  5. T Murray,
  6. G Watkinson,
  7. M J Brodie

      Abstract

      Midazolam kinetics and psychomotor function were studied after an intravenous dose of 0.075 mg/kg body weight in seven patients with alcoholic cirrhosis and eight control patients. Four of the seven cirrhotics died of complications of their liver disease within six months of the study. The metabolism of midazolam was significantly impaired in the cirrhotic patients (p less than 0.025). These patients also had evidence of greater sedation than the control group for up to six hours after the dose was administered (p less than 0.05). The clearance of midazolam did not correlate significantly with the serum albumin, or bilirubin, or with the kinetics of antipyrine, or indocyanine green. This study shows significant delay in the elimination of midazolam and decreased psychomotor function in patients with severe alcoholic liver disease. Caution is needed in using this drug for premedication in such patients before endoscopy.

      This Article

      1. Abstract
      2. PDF

      Register for free content


      Free trial
      Individuals may register for a free 60 day online trial to all content.

      Free archive
      The full back archive is now available for all BMJ Journals. Institutional subscribers may access the entire archive as part of their subscription. Personal subscribers will also have access to all content when logged in. Non-subscribers who register have free access to all articles published before 2006 right back to volume 1 issue 1. Register here to access the free archive of all BMJ Journals.

      Don't forget to sign up for content alerts so you keep up to date with all the articles as they are published.