Midazolam, a water-soluble benzodiazepine, for gastroscopy.

Midazolam, a water-soluble benzodiazepine, was given intravenously in doses of 0.07 mg/kg as sedation prior to oesophago-gastro-duodenoscopy in 40 patients. This was very effective as a sedative in elderly patients but less so in the young, with a large individual variation in response. Pain on injection and venous thrombosis which are common with diazepam were not seen with midazolam.