Benquil

midazolam

Presentation

• Benquil 7.5 mg Tablet: Each film-coated tablet contains midazolam maleate BP equivalent to midazolam 7.5 mg.

Description

Benquil is a preparation of midazolam, a benzodiazepine derivative. It is used as a premedical and sedative in surgical and other procedures and for the indication of anesthesia. It is a rapidly acting hypnotic with a short biological half-life. Midazolam reduces sleep onset time and prolongs sleep without quantitatively impairing REM sleep, awakening phases are reduced and sleep efficiency is improved. It has also anticonvulsant, anxiolytic and muscle-relaxant properties. 

Indications

• 4Sedation with amnesia
• 4Sedation in premedication and induction of anesthesia before surgical or diagnostic procedures
• 4Short-term treatment of sleep disturbances of clinically significant severity
• 4Disturbances of sleep pattern, difficulty in getting to sleep, and difficulty in getting back to sleep after premature awakening

Dosage & Administration

Oral dosage:

• For adults 7.5-15 mg daily. In elderly and debilitated patients, the recommended dose is 7.5 mg.
• In premedication, 15 mg of Midazolam should be given 30-60 minutes before the procedure.

Contra-indications

4Hypersensitivity to midazolam or other benzodiazepines 4Patients with a history of alcohol and/or drug abuse or  dependency 4 Severe respiratory depression 4Acute pulmonary insufficiency 4Sleep apnea syndrome 4Severe hepatic impairment 4Myasthenia gravis

Side-effects

Tiredness, drowsiness, muscle weakness, confusion, ataxia (especially in the elderly) and amnesia.  These effects occur predominantly at the start of treatment and generally disappear with dose reduction or continuation of therapy.

Precautions

Where treatment is given concomitantly with CNS depressant medications or in general with substances such as erythromycin, azole-type antimycotics, and cimetidine that interfere with the metabolism of midazolam by cytochrome P-450 3 A, cautions should be taken. Administration of midazolam concomitantly with other centrally acting medications should be avoided and patients should be warned against simultaneous consumption of alcohol because the combination can potentiate the undesirable effects of both substances. All anxiolytics and hypnotics can precipitate coma. So it should be avoided in case of severe hepatic impairment. As with all hypnotics, sedatives, and tranquilizers, prolonged treatment can lead to drug dependence in predisposed patients.

Use in pregnancy & lactation

There is clear evidence that the use of benzodiazepines during pregnancy endangers the human fetus. Therefore midazolam should not be taken during pregnancy, especially the first trimester, unless there is a compelling indication for its use and no safer therapeutic alternative is available. Midazolam is excreted in breast milk and can cause drowsiness and poor feeding in the infant. Therefore, midazolam should not be taken by nursing mothers.

Drug interactions

Midazolam can enhance the central sedative effect of neuroleptics, tranquilizers, antidepressants, sleep-inducing drugs, analgesics, anaesthetics, antipsychotics, anxiolytics, antiepileptic drugs and sedative antihistamines.

Storage

• Store in a cool and dry place, and protect from light.

Commercial Pack

• Benquil 7.5 mg Tablet: Each box contains 3x10 tablets in a blister pack.