Propofol and Versed experience

First, let me say that I'm NOT looking for professional input. I'm also NOT looking for play or illegal use stories.

I am looking for patient experiences when having either of these drugs in a real medical setting.

Personally, I've had Versed few times and I'm not happy. My memory of the procedures is spotty and I've had increased memory problems since the last 2 times in 2010. I have trouble remembering names and finding words in conversation. Now I list Versed as a drug allergy.

I've never had propofol but I'm considering asking for it for an upcoming upper GI scope.

So, what's your experience when you've been given either of these drugs? Effects? Side effects? Adverse reactions? Inquiring minds want to know.

I have had both used and I agree with you 100 percent. Propofol is absolutely the way to go. You won't regret it, trust me.

Mashie

I have been deeply anesthetized twice, once for prostate cancer and once for open heart surgery, In addition I have been sedated more times than I can recall (maybe the answer is here, already) for endoscopy (guinea pig/Barrett's esophagus) and colonoscopy reasons. I have never had any trouble with versed. The last time I had a scheduled endoscopy, the supply of Versed was low, so they brought in an anesthesiologist. Because of my 9 year previous open heart surgery he decided I needed a precursor dose of lidocaine IV just before administering propofol. It was a horrible experience! I was agitated and I could not think well while I listened to the standard physicians preop instructions. My ears were ringing and I informed the Dr. to knock me out. They did with the propofol. On the way out the scope apparently pulled up stomach acid and burned my lung.

I never want this combination again and I would say that at this time I would prefer versed. My wife much prefers propofol. I sleep for a long time after the administration of versed, but that mess the last time made me sick within an hour or two of the procedure. I complained to the GI doc and the anesthesiologist.

I see you are male. I have it on good account that versed does not agree with many females, it's in the literature.

I would discuss this problem with your physician and any anesthesiologist that may interview you before any procedure and tell them your concerns. If they do not listen, change physician(s) and clinic, etc. immediately. Not listening to a patient is indicative of trouble. Good luck.

Thank you both. I'm also looking for first hand experience with induction, especially propofol. Was it a light switch or was there a transition from awake to not. How about waking up?

I'm also interested in the stories of men having erections with propofol. I'm not concerned or embarrassed, just curious. I know the medical staff is professional and their only concern is my health and safety. An erection is only a concern if it becomes pirapism or interferes with the procedure. I am just turned on by the possibility.

Like a light switch for me, slight nausea on awakening although I would speculate that was the gas not the propofol, no erection apparent to me.

I have had both on multiple occasions -- for a colonoscopy. I never had a bad experience with the versed and demerol. My first experience with propofol wasn't great (felt really blah for a few days), but I am not sure the propofol was the problem.. The second with propofol went fine. No post-procedure effect. The induction with propofol was very fast. The transition was about a second or two maximum. And then I was awake.

I agree with srg_sik that propofol is very fast acting. There is no "relaxed" momentary or "buzz" phase, just out. The after effects of the propofol must be less than that of the versed and demerol, but my last situation was caused by a combination of mistakes and the misuse (my opinion) of lidocaine. My wife has had excellent results with propofol when she has had some minor tendon surgery. She will not consider versed and apparently has "acted out" rather violently with versed; this according to the statement of her GI specialist. He has stated he will not use versed on her again. Beyond that he has "no comment".

I've had both. I had Demerol/Versed for colonoscopy and probably for other procedures as well. I like the Versed because it IS an amnesiac and I don't remember a thing. There is a very few seconds of "lead time" before you're completely out but because of the amnesiac effects, you probably won't remember it.

Propofol's effects are what I like to call "here today, gone to dinner". One minute you're in the present, the next minute you're out like a light, and then you're back. From a patient perspective, I like them equally well, but for me, Propofol has fewer after-effects.

We use Propofol a lot in animal medicine and it works the same way, drops them like a ton of bricks, but they come up fast as well.

I've had the demmy/versed combo used on me, versed by itself, as well as propofol. No bad experience with any of them. If I'm having colonoscopy, my preference would be to go the versed route as I can follow the procedure and conversation. For surgery, propofol please, as following the procedure and conversation is definitely something that I do not want to do.

As others have written, Versed is slower acting (we're still talking about less than a minute or two) while propofol induces deep sedation in seconds. Propofol has a much quicker time to awaken and mental recovery -- within minutes after the infusion is stopped. My only gripe about propofol is that there was a burning sensation as the med is initially "pushed" into the vein. That's why some docs use lidocaine in the IV line with a tourniquet before pushing propofol. Other docs mix the lidocaine in with the propofol.

We're lucky to be in a time when there are such a wide variety of hypnotics and anesthesia available. I was in the lobby of Mass General Hospital a while ago where they have a display of early surgical techniques through the ages and the advent of ether. Suffice to say that the pictures and the narratives were not pretty and made me cringe.,

Propofol or Diprivan is commonly used as an induction agent prior to intubation for surgical procedures or for sedation in the ICU/ITU of mechanically ventilated adults patients ( not recommended for use with children). It works extremely fast (seconds and you are unconscious), however it worse side-effects include, hypotension (drop in blood pressure) and it will cause you to stop breathing (remember Micheal Jackson). The main reason it is use its it ability to be metabolized very quickly, taken about 20-30 mins to become fully awake once an infusion stops if used for sedation, can be quicker if you have a tempearature or can be administered in boluses(IV pushes) to keep you sedated for medical procedures . If used for induction usually 5 mins depending on the amount used. You become fully awake and oriented as Rockdoc said its like a light switch.

Versed or midazolam is used in the treatment of acute seizures, moderate to severe insomnia, and for inducing sedation and amnesia before medical procedures.Its the sedation and amnesic (partial or total loss of memory) that makes it useful with medical procedures, but unlike propofol you are unlikely to stop breathing and experience less hypotension. As others have mention it does take about 30 second - 1 min to work and depending on the dose you can be relaxed and awake ( that's why its used in a lot of endoscopic procedures).However most patient experience a "hangover" like experience and can be disoriented on waking which can result in the violence. Versed is in the same family of drugs (benzodiazepine) as Rohipnol (the date rape drug).

Demerol or pethidine is a fast-acting opioid analgesic drug it's similar to morphine but it is supposed to be safer and carry less risk of addiction, and to be superior in treating the pain associated with biliary spasm or renal colic due to its putative antispasmodic effects. Side effects include nausea, vomiting, sedation, dizziness, diaphoresis (excessive sweating), urinary retention and constipation.

Personally I would always choose Propofol over Versed because of the "hangover" effects.

According to patient testimonials (not scientific) and my own experience, about 10% of people who are given Versed have adverse reactions. This can include nightmares about the procedure, uneasiness about the amnesia, PTSD and, like me, long term memory issues.

This is why I now list Versed as a drug allergy. NEVER AGAIN!

No need to worry about getting a chubby on propofol, it won't happen. When propofol takes effect, and it does so every quickly, everything relaxes, everything. Trust me I know from multiple experiences. No worries mate, you will be fine.

Mashie

Erections are not a worry, they are a curiosity, as I posted. BTW, a propofol like drug is being investigated as a possible ED treatment. This is because there are multiple observations of this phenomenon.

What is a worry is damage to my memory.

I just totally got the creeps reading about these two drugs. I have just realized I must have been given Versed when they reset my dislocated shoulder the first time, since they told hubby it caused amnesia and I wouldn't remember anything about them setting my arm. Well, they lied. I remembered the entire thing. The way they turned my head, the way they held my feet, the pain of the bones going back into joint. I even remember screaming. I had nightmares for MONTHS!

The next time the shoulder dislocated, they didn't want to give me anything before they set it (different hospital, different mentality) and I demanded to be knocked out based on my experience from the last time. Lucky for me, the anesthesiologist, who was called in from a golfing party (dressed in his golfing clothes in the ER with me) actually asked what happened last time and why I wanted to be knocked out. Next thing I knew, he had this relatively large syringe full of white stuff, and I don't remember anything after that.

Seriously though, reading through all of your posts, and then remembering what I went through, I swear my blood pressure just went through the roof! My hands are shaking and everything. I never want to go through that crap again!

As properly stated on here it was the lidocaine that gave me the near hallucinations. I had intense ear ringing and something akin to delirium. I will opt for the versed/demerol for GI procedures in the future due to the muscle relaxing effect. I have not experienced much of a hangover with versed. A hangover surely beats a lung eruption (pleurisy) from the aspiration of stomach acid!

I've had 2 colonoscopies. The first one, I was sedated with Versed and Demerol. I sort of woke up during the procedure and heard my doctor say "I found a polyp!" and then I was back out. I'm assuming the nurse stepped up the dose of Versed and Demerol to put me under more deeply. The second colonoscopy, which was on May 7, they gave me Propofol. When they first put it in my IV I felt tingly and high and then I was out cold. The next thing I knew, they were waking me up. It didn't have any bad side effects either and wore off quickly. I was up and getting dressed in under 30 minutes and leaving the hospital in no time. I even went out to lunch after the colonoscopy was over! If asked which drug I prefer, I'd have to say, hands down, the Propofol! And I sure am looking forward to my next colonoscopy--no really!! 😃

Sweetcheeks,

With propofol, you were asleep. That's what it does. With versed, you were not asleep. Versed causes amnesia. Your partial memory is very typical. It's a good thing the memory fragment wasn't of a particularly painful or disturbing part of the procedure. It's sort of telling that you remember the doctor talking about the polyp. Finding something is what most people fear about colonoscopies. You remember because your fear was realized.

I don't like amnesic drugs, and I am scared to have memory impairment even in the days after procedures so definitely I'd prefer to avoid versed. Propofol is easier, recovery is quite fast and complete.

I'm glad to see that I am not the only one who is nervous about Versed. I just turned 58 and have never had a colonoscopy--I just can't bring myself to do it. I'm not worried about the procedure itself or potential pain, or even the invasive nature of it. My big concerns are the nudity aspect and the accompanying embarrassment (silly, I know, but a REALLY strong fear) and the fear of Versed affecting my memory after the procedure. I'd almost rather be awake for it than to be knocked out, though it sounds like Propofol might not be too bad, even given the negative publicity about it after Michael Jackson's death.

I don't us either drug. The day before is ruined so why ruin the day of. If you take the drugs you can't drive and so another day wasted The procedure is painless for me.

Seriously, colonoscopy isn't nearly as big a deal as the medical establishment makes it out to be. You can easily do it with no or few drugs. The doctor just has to be more careful and slow. It cuts into their bottom (pun intended) line.

With Versed, the Gastroenterologist can administer the drug themselves. With propofol, you need an anesthesiologist - more cost. Propofol is safe when property administered. Versed will screw up memory or trigger post traumatic memories in about 10% of cases.

Just to clarify depending on the dosage of Versed used a person can be awake and drowsy or fully unconscious. A well-documented complication of Versed/Midazolam is a paradoxical reaction. When this occurs, the individual may experience anxiety, involuntary movements, aggressive or violent behavior, uncontrollable crying or verbalization, and this behavior is often not recalled by the patient due to the amnesia-producing properties of the drug.

RN1993, You know that's weird that you said that. When I have had surgeries done when I have been able or Doc was there and was able to dictate what meds were used, which is always propofol I would wake up fine. But there have been a few times when I wasn't able to dictate what meds I was given, like when I had my emergency appy a few years ago. I remember waking up crying and I wasn't sure why exactly, especially since I am not one who cries easily or often. I remember thinking to myself about why I was crying. I was in some pain, but not enough to warrent that sort of a response. And oddly enough I remember the harder I tried to stop crying the more that made me cry. So maybe I was given Versed. And you are right, it is for lack of better terms uncontrollable crying/sobbing. Was a very scary and strange feeling to be that out of control especially for someone who is always in control. I also do not care for the whole memory or lack there of with Versed. And that's exactly why when I have to get put to sleep it's propofol for me if I am able to have any say in the matter. So thank you for mentioning this to me. Seems like it should have been a no-brainer for me, especially as a real nurse but I guess I just never made the connection before, lol. All I know is that I would hate to have me as a patient, lol. I'm a real pain in the fanny, lol.

Mashie

It's for reasons like this plus the long term memory disturbances and the real probability of post traumatic spotty memories that I now list Versed as a drug allergy. Never again for me.

For more personal experiences that are largely ignored, see

http://versedbusters.blogspot.com/

I had propofol for a recent procedure they gave me something first to relax me in the or i think it began with a v not sure but i remember hearing the one doctor say start the propfol and then bam i was out i had no idea it worked that fast

I've had propofol for a surgical procedure. It certainly acts very quickly.

Versed is now being used as the first drug in the 2 or 3 drug protocol for the death penalty in Florida and Ohio....in the creepy category. I've tried to search what dosage is being used, but haven't been able to find this written anywhere.

I've had Versed and propofol in different circumstances and both probably have their own place and time. In a hospital or outpatient surgical setting, I'd prefer propofol given the fast onset and lack of any side effects (at least for me). That 10-15 seconds between the start of the push and the time you're asleep is pure bliss. But propofol requires the presence of an anesthesia doc or nurse anesthetist. I've had Versed for wisdom teeth removal and for a colonoscopy before the broader use of propofol for that procedure. Given the choice of just a local for the cracking and pulling of a wisdom tooth or both Versed and the local, I'll take the Versed.

I do also love that 10-15 seconds between the start of the Propofol and when it takes hold. It is true bliss for sure. However, I can't speak for other states, but in Ohio you do not have to be a doctor or a nurse anesthetist to push propofol. A regular nurse can push it here as long as they have a doctors order to do so. When I ran my vent/trach unit and my patients were bucking their trachs, a nice 5cc bolus of the white God, and buh-bye, off to a peaceful slumber they went for a little while anyway , lol.

Mashie

I'm very interested in the experience of that 15-30 second period as propofol takes hold.

In NJ, I'm not sure if it's law or insurance/facility regulations but propofol is restricted to full anesthesia facilities, IOW, an anesthesiologist or CNA. I don't know about inpatient rules but I'd venture to guess that, being the patient in your unit was already on life support, it's not so much of an issue.

Propofol is also known as "milk of amnesia", I hope that helps 😃