Propofol and Versed experience

BBW, curious how the bronchosocpy went. Since breathing and eyes seem to be some of the most "protected" parts of the body it would seem that that would be one of the hardest things to stay calm for, but it sounds like you succeeded.

It was awful, but I couldn't convey that to my dr because I had the scope down my throat. I told him at my follow up appointment and he said that if I ever needed another one, he'd do it under general anesthesia.

BBW, your OBs secretary doesn't know her head from her ass. With propofol there isn't a "happy" state. You are either awake or you are not and with propofol there isn't an awake option. It works quickly so with the injection of as little as a few cc's it puts you completely asleep. It also is very quick to leave the body and you wake up quick once the med is no longer being injected.

I am a nurse and I know what I am talking about. Please read the threads here and you will see that what I am telling you is the truth. If you have questions ask your doctor. Do your own research. A doctor would have to be crazy to do a spinal over being able to use propofol because a spinal is much more risky.

Mashie

The more I find out, the more I am feeling I am not going to do it. Nuts to that.

It also is very quick to leave the body and you wake up quick once the med is no longer being injected.

...in most cases. Sometimes not. I was told that I was "out a bit longer than they expected" when I finally woke up, saw a clock, and asked what happened. That was the one time I let them use propofol.

I know this is rare, but when it does happen it's rather scary.

Much preferable to the Versed. Once I was finally awake and a day had passed I was back to normal with the propofol, but still a bit worried about what might happen.

I had propafol for my recent colonoscopy. I went to sleep in seconds and woke up in recovery. I was a little woozy when I left the clinic but had no real problems.

I had an impacted tooth removed under sedation. I don’t remember what drug was used but I was quite happily “drunk”. When the Novacane began to wear off I could feel it and drunkenly pointed to my mouth. The oral surgeon numbed me up again. Afterward I was still pretty out of it and when I got home I fell asleep.

@moliere

...in most cases. Sometimes not. I was told that I was "out a bit longer than they expected" when I finally woke up, saw a clock, and asked what happened. That was the one time I let them use propofol.

I dont know what combination of meds they used but as Mashie said

. It also is very quick to leave the body and you wake up quick once the med is no longer being injected.

I have used propofol for over 20 years and it does leave your system very quickly once you stop the infusion and patient become awake and alert without the "hangover feeling" , its been compared to "switching a light on".

I suspect it was the combination of an opioid that caused you to "out a bit longer than they expected" as everone's tolerance to opioids is different.

I probably should get exact drugs used, but what you say is similar to what my dad said. Though as a dentist he usually used local nerve blocks, some patients did insist on general for some reason, sometimes it was inhaled and sometimes IV.

I still think that I would have a very difficult time now trusting an anesthesiologist enough to let them mess with my consciousness, especially after the Versed experience. The impression I have is that they really don't give a damn what happens as long as you're not actually dead.

I had 2 foot surgeries one with versed and one without I can tell you I hope to never have versed again. I complained that I felt terrible after the first surgery so the doctor said it was probably the versed, so he only used propofol and fentanyl. I woke up feeling fine, still needed a driver.

I've also had 3 endoscopies, one awake because I needed to drive... I don't recommend that, it feels like a train is being shoved downs your throat with the gagging sensation and the feeling like your drowning.

Ever since my first experience with versed I ask the doctors not to use it, and so far they all agree

I ended up having the surgery with general anesthetic as the anesthesiologist didn't feel he could safely sedate me. He used propofol to knock me out. When I woke up, I wanted to go home and slid off the foot of the stretcher in Recovery in an attempt to do so. Not sure if that had anything to do with the propofol or not but I've heard women can 'act up' after having it.

I have had 9 bladder ops and love how propofol works on your body as I tend to go lights out straight away.

I just love having the propofol injected into my arm. I know it sounds crazy

Disclosure: I work as a Critical Care Paramedic so I come to this with a specific perspective/opinion.

Other disclosure: I find this topic quite interesting and I thank you for posting it in the first place.

On the ambulance, we prefer Versed to Propofol for a couple of reasons. First, we get (in general), much better sedation for longer, and with less drug given. This is with push dosing or with infusions. We also have less fluid input with Versed, so if pulmonary edema is a concern, we have that benefit too. Generally, Versed doesn't have as heavy an effect on the blood pressure compared to Propofol, which is notorious for killing a patient's blood pressure if you aren't paying attention to dose.. We tend to have to put patients on significantly higher levels of Propofol when we are transporting (compared with Versed) with it because of the patient being moved from bed to stretcher, to ambulance, and bumping on the road. And if you run out of propofol, you intubated patient is gonna wake up in 2-3 minutes. As a personal opinion, I prefer Ativan because it works better than Versed and doesn't hurt the blood pressure as much either. If that is an option, you could ask for that too.

That said, Propofol has some advantages too. It is super easy to titrate up and down. Equally so, the effects quickly will increase or decrease with dosing. I understand why hospitals will use it, considering they are not tossing a patient around and have a greater supply.

If you feel you had poor outcomes with Versed, then have the discussion with the Anesthesiologist/CRNA/whomever is providing your sedation and bring up your concerns. There are a number of options (propofol aside) that can be explored as well, some that were already mentioned. I would inquire if they mixed the Versed with other drugs like Fentanyl, Dilaudid, etc.

What they feel like on the receiving end probably has a lot to do with dose and circumstances, but Midazolam made me feel dizzy and then made the room fade out. My memories after that are spotty and dark but not completely absent.

Propofol was a moment of feeling funny, followed immediately by waking up.

I'm not a big fan of versed. I've used Propofol and ketamine in office sedation for surgical procedures with excellent results. Propofol plays well with fentanyl to give a nice balance as well.

Propofol does not do anything for pain. Versed doesn't either, it just keeps you from remembering it. Ketamine gives a whole body numbness that is very effective for blocking pain for procedures. Plays very nicely with Propofol. Fentanyl will block pain while the Propofol keeps you asleep, also a great combination.

Propofol also call block the emergence reaction some people get with ketamine, eliminating one of the main reasons people are resistant to using it.

If must use a benzodiazepine with Propofol, I much prefer ativan. I don't react well to versed and will avoid ever getting that medication again. Many of my patients reported similar reactions and aversion to repeating versed.

I had versed (with Demerol) on two occasions for colonoscopies. The last three colonoscopies and my two knee replacements were with propofol (and the knee replacements also had a nerve block). I had no issues with the propofol — easy to go to black and easy to wake. That was not the case with the versed and I would not allow versed to be used in me again.

For my colonoscopies it's been propofol and fentanyl. Quick wake up and didn't feel groggy - although the nurse held my arm all the way out to the car. For my ankle surgery it was a general anesthetic.

Having a background as and Intensive Care nure as well as a nurse that works in Endoscopy I'm well versed with both Propofol (Diprivan) and Midazolam ( Versed ) as well as fentanyl and Demerol (Pethidine).

As others have mention Propofol is very effective for sedation but has no analgesic effect ( pain relief) , so in Intensive Care we used it in combination with either fentanyl , or previously Alfentanyl. This combination works very effective with ventilated patients . The most common side effect include Apnoea; arrhythmias; headache; hypotension; localised pain; nausea; vomiting. Less common side effects include dyskinesia ( abnormality or impairment of voluntary movement ); euphoric mood; heart failure; hepatomegaly; hyperkalaemia; hyperlipidaemia; metabolic acidosis; renal failure; respiratory depression; rhabdomyolysis .

The reason why we tend to use Propofol instead of Versed (Midazolam) in ICU is its ability to be i a short-acting medication that results in a decreased level of consciousness and lack of memory for events. People often describe waking up as if " a lightbulb has been switch on " in the sense that one second you are asleep then you are instantly awake and oriented. You don't have the "hangover feeling " as with Midazolam ( Versed). It's for this reason that Propofol is also used for procedural sedation. It's use in these settings results in a faster recovery compared to midazolam. and often used in combination with opioids like fentanyl or pethidine.

However the main reason it's not used in Endoscopy procedures in the UK is because of the apnoea ( temporary cessation of breathing, especially during sleep) effects . We would require to have anaesthetic cover to ensure patient safety during the procedure, which the majority of units don't have.

As a result we used a combination of Midazolam ( Versed) with either Fentanyl or Pethidine ( Demerol). Midazolam (Verse) is a benzodiazepine medication used for anesthesia, procedural sedation, trouble sleeping, and severe agitation. It works by inducing sleepiness, decreasing anxiety, and causing a loss of ability to create new memories. It is also useful for the treatment of seizures. Midazolam is superior to Diazepam (Valium) in impairing memory of endoscopy procedures, but propofol has a quicker recovery time. The main side effects include decreased alertness; anxiety; ataxia (more common in elderly); confusion (more common in elderly); depression; dizziness; drowsiness; dysarthria; fatigue; gastrointestinal disorder; headache; hypotension; mood altered; muscle weakness; nausea; respiratory depression (particularly with high dose and intravenous use).

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.

During a procedure I had they used Versed , on my follow up visit a couple days later. I was told I had a violent reaction to the Versed and to list it as an allergy. I do not renumber any of that happening. unfortunately I had 2 family member witness me being violent with the nurses and doctor in the recovery area. I went back to the surgery center and apologized several times to the staff, nurses, and DR.

Prefer Propofol but in some cases Versed works too. Also have been premeditated with Versed and ended up with Propofol to knock me out.

During recent arm surgery I told the anesthesiologist that I didn't want versed because I feel sick afterwards...

He wasn't happy.

While doing the brachial plexus block, he used ketamine and demerol... Uggh I was woozy like I drank a whole bottle of vodka in one gulp, not a good feeling. And I remember the most intense pain from the needle in the brachial plexus. For the surgery itself they added propofol, that was fine.

I'm not sure what I would do if I had to go through that again... I might agree to versed (probably not) because then at least I wouldn't remember the pain.

I’ve had Propofol before and it’s good for the lightbulb effect but I dislike feeling cold upon waking up. My preferred cocktail is Versed at no more than 1mg (I weight 57kg) per push once every 10 minutes with 25-50mcg of Fentanyl every 10 minutes.

Last surgery I was a step above deep sedation but not under general Anesthesia so I was gassed haha. I wanted Versed and Fentanyl but they were worried my body would react to the pain and wanted a deeper level of numbness/unconsciousness. After they cut my breathing rate in half trying to slow my heart rate... I’ll never let another anesthesiologist get me to agree to anything over minimal sedation again. I told them not to try to control my vitals. We knew going into surgery I’m a slight risk for anesthesia but they didn’t listen... Looks like I’ll be under Versed, Fentanyl and regional anesthesia for now on.

I personally love being a cheap date. Just a little Versed to relax me and some Fentanyl to numb me. Allows me to remember key points of the procedure like what’s being said and no hangover afterwords.

I just had rotator cuff surgery to repair a tare in my arm, and they were supposed to give me "something that wouldn't make me care" before the nerve block, which i remember them say during the procedure was Versed, then I recall them saying "it was ok for my shoulder to hurt and jerk around". Then the next thing I remember is I'm in the OR, and they are yelling at me to move from the gurney to the table and I finally got it together to say, " I can't move, I need help", it was very disturbing to be awakened to ppl yelling at you. For 2 weeks afterwards, if i wasn't taking sleeping pills, i woke up with nightmares of ppl yelling at me, not a fun recovery.

I always had Demerol and Versed for my colonoscopies and was fine with it. My last scoping in Jan., they used Propofol. 2 days later, I went to Krogers for groceries. I realized while driving that I had no business behind the wheel. I was not alert. I drove home and didn't try to drive for 2 more days and I was fine by then. I told my gastro what happened and he made a note to not use Propofol again.

Some good news: They will now scope me every 5 years, rather than every 3 years, since they found no polyps during my last 2 colonoscopies.

I have a colonoscopy 15 years ago under diprivan = propofof

I don't remember when I begin to sleep, I was waiting and sometime after I wake up after it was done with no pain.

I felt normal the after but very tired 2 days after (perhaps I went to bed too late )

I have had only one experience with propofol so far, for my colonoscopy a few months ago (described in excruciating detail in the non-medfet thread). It was pretty much as the Dr. described it to me prior to my procedure, except he said it may produce a slight burning sensation going in, but I didn't have any. Once the anesthesiologist started pushing it into my IV, I was completely knocked out within seconds, and woke up in what felt like almost immediately after in recovery, but in reality a bit over an hour had passed. I was completely lucid immediately after waking up, but feeling slightly lightheaded for a couple of minutes. There was no grogginess or feeling hungover. It was like taking a little nap, basically a lightbulb effect described here many times by others. I did not feel any lingering effects at any point afterwards.

This thread is pretty interesting to me. I'm an anesthesia provider (CRNA) and it's educating to read about some of your experiences. If anyone has any questions about sedation or anesthesia, feel free to ask and I'll try my best to answer.

Ive ha propofol in an ER for a dislocated shoulder. I went under and came out of it in approximately seven minutes. Super fast acting. Now i understand why Michael Jackson loved it so much. Dont remember anything and walked out half hour later.

I see a common theme there, dealing with colonoscopy pain meds.

I‘be had 3 so far and an endoscopy all without any medication.

I allow them to prep me for anesthesia so it’s available if needed, but so far have not needed it.

First one no problem. Dr. gave me the grand tour of my bowls, which was the purpose of being awake. I’m curious. Ten yrs later, same Dr., was uncomfortable. He added lots of gas to expand my bowl so had constant cramps but it was able to endure. Most recent with different doc, a personal friend, gave me a detailed explanation/examination of diverticuli which had given me some problems. Again - piece of cake.

Don‘t know if all docs will allow you to try your colonoscopy with out meds, but might be worth a try if pain meds are a problem.

Endoscopy felt a little weird snaking around my insides but again, no discomfort.

I always request no pain meds, but they always hook me up for them. The anesthesiologist always starts me off very mild ….. but she's ready to open the flood gates if necessary. It's never been necessary.

The doctor always gives me a narrated tour. And when he enters the transverse, I can see something pulsing. He said that's my heart beating …… amazing sight to see!

I can remember every little thing right after the procedure. But little by little, the drugs do their job wiping out my memory. I can only remember the outstanding moments such as seeing my heart beat or when he gets to the end and does the 180 with the tip of the scope.

When ever I tell friends I request this for my procedure, they all think I'm crazy.

Pussies!!!

I have had 2 colonoscopies and 1 endoscopy. All I recall was drifting off as the doc was telling me something about his car and woke up later. I never had any discomfort throughout. Versed was given.