Table 1 Clinical use of benzodiazepines.
| Drug | Advantages | Disadvantages |
|---|---|---|
| Benzo‐ diazepines | Better ventilator synchrony | No pain relief |
| Anti‐anxiety | Arterial hypotension | |
| Sedation | Respiratory depression | |
| Hypnosis | Constipation | |
| Muscle relaxation | Urinary retention | |
| Amnesia | Myoclonus | |
| Anticonvulsant | Seizures | |
| CNS depression | ||
| Tolerance, dependence | ||
| May interfere with bilirubin metabolism | ||
| Midazolam | Most studied benzodiazepine | Short acting |
| Quickly metabolised | Haemodynamic instability | |
| Changes in cerebral blood flow | ||
| Lorazepam | Longer acting | More myoclonus reported |
| Better anticonvulsant | Possible accumulation with repeated doses | |
| Diazepam | Not recommended in the neonate |
CNS, central nervous system.