Versed for Light Sedation User Reviews

• Friend
• Taken for 2 to 5 years
• December 12, 2019

"Although I have too enjoyed Versed, I'm writing this as a witness to what my friend went through. My buddy dislocated his arm for the second time. After learning about Versed and memory loss he asked to be knocked out. The Doctor refused and rather insisted on Versed with plenty of Demerol. The drugs were given and my friend laid comfortably until it was time. The Doc and helper started trying to put his arm in. That's when the screaming began! While under the drugs my friend was communicating (yelling/crying) with the doctor, begging him to put him out. He even told the doctor, "I'll remember this". It was a lengthy painful struggle but the arm finally popped in. My friend then quickly fell asleep. Once he came to, he didn't remember a thing! Witnessing that, I've have disturbed feelings about the drug."

• Upset
• December 28, 2021

"I tell the nurses and dr each time I have a procedure that this medication does not work for me. They totally ignore me. I had a trial stimulator put in my back today after telling every nurse and dr they still used it. I was totally awake until they finished. Horrible experience. It was so painful. I am not happy!!!"

• MCano
• Taken for less than 1 month
• February 26, 2020

"My dad was given versed during a colonoscopy at the VA and he never recovered his memory. He was absolutely independent prior to the versed. He was robbed of the rest of his life because of this drug."

• Versed...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• August 16, 2020

"Had paradoxical reaction before hernia repair - was supposed to be light sedation but instead had to be put under to finish the surgery. Had anxiety attacks for years after. Had numerous operations - before and since - with nothing but local, and they were fine. Two hand surgeries involved Fentanyl, which I have no issue with. For me, Versed is the PCP of Benzodiazepines."

• 19937...
• August 9, 2016

"Went in to get a celiac plexus block. Was given three doses of versed. Kept telling the docs that I was fully awake, aware, and very anxious because what they were doing hurt considerably. I have been put under for multiple procedures, and know the point when you are starting to go "out." This never occurred. They just kept repeating that I was fine and I would "forget everything." To which I kept reiterating that I would not and the versed wasn't working. They might as well have given me water in my IV. I ended up jumping off of the table, and had to leave. My main doctor's office that referred me to have the procedure kept telling me that there's no way I would remember anything. Wish that was the case. Would not recommend."

• Magoo
• Taken for less than 1 month
• April 8, 2021

"I was given Versed twice for cataract surgery. First surgery went perfectly, and I had the sensation of being asleep and then awakened in recovery. The second surgery a month later resulted in a situation where I remembered every aspect of the surgery, but had no pain, likely due to the anesthetic eye drops being used. I will not choose this drug for anesthesia again."

• Young...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• November 23, 2023

"Was given Versed prior to a hernia surgery I had last fall. The nurse referred to it as 'vein champagne' and for me, it certainly was that. Calmed my nerves within minutes. We could have been under a full-scale nuclear attack at the time, and I would not have cared. Going in to have surgery on a deviated septum in a few weeks, and I'll be asking for this stuff again."

• LisaKay
• Taken for less than 1 month
• August 14, 2016

"I had 3 surgeries within 3 months as a teen. This drug is what the pre-op physician gave me 1-2 minutes prior to wheeling me back into surgery. It is supposed to calm nerves but it had the opposite effect for me. I was very nervous about the surgery so I was given syringe of it in my hand 1-2 minutes prior to them wheeling me back. It caused instant anxiety and impending feelings of doom. I was hyperventilating/blubbering/crying/freaking out as they put me to sleep. My surgeon was in tears and was petting my head to calm me. I ask for no IV pre-sedatives now."

• kbee
• July 11, 2012

"I was given Versed as a sedation for 3 colonoscopies. It is great. After the procedure I have no grogginess and it is fast acting and doesn't linger throughout the day. My last procedure I was given propofol. It was terrible. I was sick for 2 days. I will definitely have Versed used here on out as long as its available."

• No...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• January 1, 2017

"I was given Versed during a surgery on 12-27-2066, starting on 12-28-20016 and through the next two days I have been having periods when my heart starts beating wildly for no reason and other periods that it seems to slow and flutter. I needed to return to Dr.'s office for an EKG, but nothing was happening during the time of the test, so he saw nothing. This should pass in time, but who wants to mess with this for days to weeks after surgery? Five days after surgery I still can't focus my eyes together properly, and my vision is still blurry, and I am l a little dizzy. Close up objects are perceived as double."

• L Cam...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• June 25, 2016

"Following major jaw surgery, wires and screws were to be removed from my upper jaw, extending all the way to my eye sockets. I arrived at the center, was asked to sit in a dental chair, and had both arms strapped down. I wondered about that. Then, versed was administered. Off to neverland? Never. When I awoke, thinking it was all over, the doctor was quite upset with me. I had unknowingly become agitated and combative and he was unable to begin. Versed didn't work for me. I was very embarrassed to hear how the drug caused me to behave."

• horri...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• May 7, 2021

"Had what I swore was PTSD after horrific experience with IV versed for cardiac cath- could not move nor talk but knew it was taking way to long. Was uncomfortable from positioning and kept having waves of impending death. Now I need cataract surgery and allowed them to convince me that the cath experience was due to how gravely ill I was and the fact that it was a lengthy procedure. 1st eye went OK-partial amnesia, no pain but again feeling of impending blindness/death. Procedure only took 10 min which I could deal with. 2nd eye, another horrific event. After procedure given tylenol and ushered out the door. Sorry state of American health care. I went home and took tramadol. PS-shame on me I am an RN and should have known better but in my area if you ask to many questions or complain they throw you out of practice and supply well exceeds demand so what can you do. No more invasive care for me EVER !!!!"

• Annie
• Taken for less than 1 month
• August 28, 2019

"I had a port surgically implanted in my shoulder in March 2016. They used Versed and Fentanyl. I never fell asleep and remembered everything, including each cut of my skin, the implanting, and felt every stitch pulling. Only the Lidocaine was effective to tolerate the procedure. On 09/26/2019 I had a 15-20 minute procedure to take a large amount of bone marrow from large bone that runs horizontally across the low back. Again they gave me Versed and Fentanyl. The Versed did nothing to sedate me or make me sleep. I was fully awake and aware of everything. Again Lidocaine was used at the incision site and I believe the Fentanyl helped me because although I felt most everything I was never in any excruciating pain. Since I was fully coherent, walking and talking, they let me go home right away. Twice now I was given Versed for sedation but it did not work and I have no memory loss. In 2005 it worked for a colonoscopy but not these last times."

• Mhami
• April 6, 2015

"I had a total knee replacement three weeks ago and Versed was used as an amnesia drug while they prepped me, etc. I barely remember anything for the next two and a half days, had short dreams, one in which I was painting and when I woke up, my hand was up and moving like I had a paint brush. I don't remember eating a thing in the hospital, to this day. My friends who visited told me I had chicken, etc., When my Mum and friend came to visit, we were watching television and I asked her who did she find to hang her big screen tv on the wall. She didn't, we were in the hospital. I called my best friend at 3am to ask her if she could come and get me at a friends house, I was in the hospital. I'll never have this drug used on me again, ever"

• Alan
• April 1, 2016

"I have UC and get a colonoscopy every year...the ONLY good thing about this whole procedure is getting 1 to 2mg of versed in the prep area and just before they give me propofol. I think it's one of the greatest drugs out there, so much euphoria, everything is awesome, calmness, all the anxiety, and any stress you have is gone!!! Wonderful drug, just wish it would last slightly longer. regardless high recommend if your going to get a out patient surgery or in my case a colonoscopy"

• fibro...
• October 5, 2011

"I was given Valium first and I took pain pills at home about 6 hours before the surgery-Norco was all I took. Then right before they wheeled me into the operating room (so they said), I got that versed IV, and a combination block which was administered via a teeny tiny wire inserted in the inner/upper thigh area-kept my leg NUMB completely for 4 days after that Total Knee replacement-and the VERSED left me with absolutely NO RECOLLECTION of what the surgeons did to my knee. FABULOUS! Severe pain when the nerve blocking wire was removed-morphine IV drip and additional shots via the IV port helped. "

• Mount...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• September 8, 2019

"My husband has some mild short-term memory loss after taking Neurontin 2 1/2 years ago. Last summer, he has had several procedures needing light sedation in which Versed has been used. It has been effective for unawareness of the procedures themselves, but after each dose, his memory loss seems to be progressively worse. We will be talking with his PCP about this, and with any future procedures, he will request no sedation or a different medication."

• Heart...
• October 3, 2013

"This was given to me through an IV before an ICD implant. It worked fast and in less than a minute I was totally relaxed and a little sleepy. I don't remember being wheeled into the OR or being put under. Really helped relieve all anxiety I had before surgery."

• Cathy
• Taken for less than 1 month
• February 20, 2024

"I was given Versed prior to my cataract surgery about 1 ½ years ago. I didn’t feel much of anything from it, but also felt no pain during the surgery due to the eye drops they give you. I had no other side effects from it at all. I will be having my other eye done in the very near future and I understand I will be given this again. I read some awful reviews and can’t imagine having those side effects. I prefer less over more in medication so hope all goes well on the next surgery."

• Jjones
• Taken for less than 1 month
• November 20, 2019

"I had Versed for 2 steroid epidural injections today and the Versed maybe lasted 2 minutes, if at all. I remember the nurse saying my lower back will be very cold and I remember the 2 injections because they felt like big bee stings. I questioned not receiving the Versed and was assured I did. My hands were over my head on the table and the IV was in my hand, so I didn’t actually see anyone putting anything in it. Next time I’ll skip the Versed and then I won’t need someone to drive me home."

• Anonymous
• Taken for less than 1 month
• January 5, 2023

"My brother had surgery (first time) when he was 59. They used versed as a light relaxer prior to putting him under completely. When he woke up he'd lost memory. He forgot how to do certain things at his job, eventually got lost trying to get to a job he'd worked for over 15 years. He lost years of past memories and some short term. He was forced to leave his job, was too young for Social security, had to fight for years to get disability, can't drive."

• Justme
• July 7, 2018

"I have been thru a lot of spine surgeries and complications with car accident. With permanent damage I get versed for spinal epidurals and trigger point injections every 4 weeks. Obviously I have a tolerance to this. But even from the beginning, I always fall asleep and relax easily. Once or twice I have I grogginess after and I believe was due to administered more because was soon after surgeries and tolerance was higher. Other than normal tiredness it helps wonderfully get me through the procedure. Don't remember anything and can function few hours later after a long nap. Every person is different and matter how much is administered as with any medication. I would say has high rating doing what it is intended for."

• Biggs
• Taken for less than 1 month
• May 24, 2019

"Had Versed for a colonoscopy. I vaguely recall saying "Ow! ... Ow!" as some parts of the procedure were very painful. The doc asked me later "So you don't remember a thing?" with a smile. I replied "I remember saying "Ow" a lot" and he brushed that off as me "dreaming". I have since learned that making you forget is a major part of why they use this, and yes colonoscopies can be painful. Despite the above I'd still recommend this, as I certainly did forget most of it, and being such an embarrassing procedure I'm glad of that! Didn't have any side effects that I'm aware of."

• CTano
• Taken for less than 1 month
• October 26, 2019

"I'm extremely claustrophobic and needed to have an MRI done on my neck. Could not do an open MRI because I have a heart monitor implant. so I had to do one of those MRIs that looks like a donut hole opening to a tunnel. Was given Versed IV (conscious sedation) to calm me. The MRI was 35 minutes long but it actually only felt like 10 minutes. The nurse who administered the IV was there the whole time monitoring my vital signs. The Versed worked. No side effects, other than being sleepy for a couple of hours when I got home, which they told me to expect that. I never would have made it through that MRI without Versed sedation."

• Bluea...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• December 19, 2022

"Versed doesn’t seem to work for me or my family on my mom’s side. I was given it to sedate me ( unbeknownst to me or I would have warned them) for an endoscopy and I managed to stay out long enough for them to push the beginning of the tube down, probably a minute or two. The rest of the time I spent gagging (naturally). While the doctor was literally screaming at me to stop rather than trying to figure out why I was gagging as I should have been out enough to suppress my gag reflex. My previous endoscopy was done with different meds and I don’t remember a thing."