Is 11mg of (Versed) Midazolam excessive?

[crystalfresh]

Endoscopy procedure.

I was given Versed 1-3mg every 2-3 minutes for 10 minutes totaling 11mg (eleven mg) of Versed. I'm a light weight at 130 lbs. I mentally went out completely after receiving the first 2mg. Not sure why they continued to give me an additional 9mg over the next 8 minutes? Trying to know if that is excessive?

Stats during,
Oxygen recorded 100% every 5 minutes
BP was 115/55 to 117/60, pulse of 83-92.

Normal everyday BP (Just to compare)
125/75, pulse of 60

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I wasn't supposed to get anything. The doc said right before the procedure not to worry, no sedation yes I know, we won't drug you yes yes I know. Yea, doc clearly lied.

-- If you don't want drugs
1. Telling the doc no drugs is not enough! TRUST ME I WAS DRUGGED.
2. They make you sign a consent form relating to medications "for emergencies only"
   = So on this form you MUST WRITE - NO DRUGS, NO EXCEPTIONS unless needed in a life threatening situation to keep patient alive, no exceptions. NO SEDATION! It probably won't say anything about being sedated but it is important to write it on every form too. Just to be safe. I declined sedation on this form by the way and was still sedated.
> Then get the doctor to sign the consent form stating NO SEDATION. It is not enough not to have it, you must have it in writing that you "will not be sedated".
   = Then write: See additional consent forms for medication. Here you can make your own form should you decide to accept medication for any type of sedation.
On your consent form write:
        o: additional consent forms required for each medicating.
        o: can not exceed this ______ dosage amount.
        o: no repeat dosages with this consent. (or they might repeat the same dosage over and over)
        o: not valid with out patient signature.

It normally doesn't get this bad but for your protection if you choose mild or no sedation it must be done like this just in case. I'm talking from experience now.
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My question is: Is 11mg of Versed 1mg/ml excessive over 10 minutes for conscious sedation. Thank you.

[LavenderJade]

This is the last time I'm posting here, it's too upsetting for me.  I just wanted to point out that your comments today contradict what you stated on 11/1  about Versed :

"It does seem to everyone that they are unconscious after they receive this med but actually people are wide awake, carry on normal conversations, follow directions very well "

and then today :

"Most physicans do not mention the amnesic effect of versed because they give it for sedation. And if you sedate  someone, just like if you take something to help you sleep, most of the time you are not going to remember so basically the point of telling that effect is moot if you are taking a nap."

So which one is it-  are we "wide awake" or " taking a nap " ?  Or is that a secret ?

[LavenderJade]

Not telling a patient he/she will experience amnesia when given Versed is NOT a "moot point." Because  I specifically requested to be awake for my colonoscopy, I feel the doctor was then obligated to explain that I would most likely not remember the procedure.  When I confronted him about it afterward,  he told me, " You WERE awake - we had you watching the monitor" (and then he actually CHUCKLED!) I feel like a cruel joke was played on me. I feel mentally violated to think my mind was stolen from me for 2 hours (includes recovery time) and I do not know what I said or did in that time,  or what REALLY happened to me. I do not believe for one minute that doctors don't know how upsetting the word "amnesia" is to some patients (not all).  Nurse555, both crystalfresh & I (and hundreds of other people) have lost a lot of respect & trust in medical professionals because of our traumatic experiences with doctors who do not care about the PERSON behind the procedure. You may be a wonderful caring nurse, but if you clearly understood how much chrystalfresh & i have been hurt, you would not defend them. I may never completely trust any health care providers again.
Chrystalfresh, you are not alone. I care about what happened to you.

[TikkiRo]

I just underwent a colonoscopy yesterday and despite telling the doc beforehand that I wanted "bucketloads" of sedation because (and he knows this) I have a very poor pain tolerance and very high drug tolerance (am on chronic narcotics for multiple chronic pain syndromes incl fibromyalgia), I only got 4 mg midazolam and 100 mcg fentanyl - I'd have given anything to have had your dosages given that I was wide awake all the way through and screaming my head off as he wound his way round my "long and tortuous" colon.   Unfortunately apparently, for me at least, this is the max dose they're allowed to provide if you're going home afterwards so nothing he could do for me, but at least he empathised with how dire it had been and at least I'm also fortunate enough in having had a relatively negative result which means I won't have to undergo it again for a LONG time!!   But for me at least, I'd be begging for the meds I'm afraid - wuss that I am LOL!  (PS - I'm in the UK).

[crystalfresh]

Yes it was a nurse that was giving me the drugs but I stopped the nurse from giving me drugs and she backed off looking at the doctor for further instruction.

On every line where my signature is I write personal notes just in case I don't understand the forms so my feelings are clear. Then make the person handing me the forms sign it so they understood I put the notes there. It's sad that we have to do these things to this extreme.

I never had surgery before.

[nurse555]

I also agree that it sounds as if you had a terrible experience. I cannot answer as to why they would not answer your questions.  Was it a regular nurse or an anesthesia provider that was administering your unwelcomed medication.  I think that part of the confusion is the term "conscious sedation"  it can also be referred to as "monitored anesthesia care" or "MAC" for short if given by an anesthesia provider.  Conscious sedation is sedation that is given for procedures to be done. That does not mean that you will be wide awake. That is why you do have a "recovery period" after conscious sedation just like you do if you had general anesthesia or also referred to as "being put to sleep."  When anesthesia personell say conscious sedation or MAC they mean that they are going to sedate you, you may and most likely are going to sleep but you will be breathing on your own and will remember nothing of the procedure. There are many methods and drugs used to do this. Versed being one of them.  When they say that they are going to put you to sleep for a procedure or use general anesthesia.... they mean that you are going to be totally unconscious and have a breathing tube placed and a machine will breathe for you. Drugs in a gas form will flow with oxygen through the breathing tube to keep you asleep until the end of the procedure then after the procedure you will be awakened and the breathing tube removed.  Have you ever been put to sleep for surgery?? Do you ever remember the breathing tube being removed?  In essence you are placed on a ventilator when you are placed under general anesthesia or "put to sleep".  Does this clarify any of the terms that are used?  Most physicans do not mention the amnesic effect of versed because they give it for sedation. And if you sedate  someone, just like if you take something to help you sleep, most of the time you are not going to remember so basically the point of telling that effect is moot if you are taking a nap.
I hope that this has clarified some of the confusing terms that are used when sedating or putting someone to sleep.  I just wish that you had known this information prior to your incident.  But that still does not excuse them from giving you drugs if you specifically requested No drugs.  Next time could I suggest something..... When you sign consent for sedation or consent for procedure.... if the two consents are seperate.. DO NOT sign the sedation consent.  If they are together.... There should be a line on any consent that you sign that says ..." I consent to any and all procedures except ____________.  Fill in that blank with your own handwriting "NO DRUGS"  or "ONLY DRUGS BROUGHT WITH ME". All facilities in all states have somthing similiar to this on their consents.  If not , write in your own handwriting above your signature...I do not wish to receive any type of sedation.  That way if the consent is altered or if you are gven any type of medication then you have a legal case.......  

[LavenderJade]

I can tell you why I think they "put you to sleep"... because it's easier for the doctor ! I am horrified by what happened to you. I can relate to what you aid about being obsessed thinking something must have "gone wrong", because that's how I felt when the nurse at the endo center didn't return my call when I said I wanted to know what really happended to me during my procedure.  I requested my records, but they didn't say much, and some things were actually crossed out ! (WHY??)  I also thought the word "conscious" meant awake & alert...as I mentioned in my previous post, I believe doctors deliberately don't explain it. And I ALSO agree with your final comment -
more harm can be done by being deceptive to a patient than letting a patient feel pain.
Nurse555, if you're still reading these posts, I'd love to hear your honest feelings about what happended to crystal. (I noticed expressed no surprise or apology for what happened.)