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Midazolam vs. Diphenhydramine for the Treatment of Metoclopramide-induced Akathisia: A Randomized Controlled Trial.

Author(s): Parlak I, Erdur B, Parlak M, Ergin A, Ayrik C, Tomruk O, Turkcuer I, Ergin N

Affiliation(s): MD (Email: bulenterdur@hotmail.com.

Publication date & source: 2007-08, Acad Emerg Med., 14(8):715-21. Epub 2007 May 31.

Objectives To compare the effects of midazolam, which is a fast and short-acting benzodiazepine, and diphenhydramine, which is a widely used anticholinergic agent, in clinical practice for the treatment of metoclopramide-induced akathisia. Methods All adults older than 17 years given metoclopramide for nausea and vomiting or for headache and who had akathisia were eligible for this clinical, randomized, double-blind trial. Patients were randomized to receive diphenhydramine or midazolam. Subjective, objective, and total akathisia scores and modified Ramsay Sedation Scale scores were recorded. Repeated-measures analysis of variance was used to compare the efficacy and side effects of the medications. Results Forty-one (73.3%) of the 56 enrolled patients were women. The mean (+/-SD) age was 39.9 (+/-15.7) years in the diphenhydramine group and 40.9 (+/-16.2) years in the midazolam group. Mean subjective, objective, and total akathisia scores in the first 5 minutes declined considerably in the midazolam group compared with the diphenhydramine group (p < 0.001). However, the mean Ramsay Sedation Scale score in the first 15 minutes increased significantly in the midazolam group compared with the diphenhydramine group (p < 0.001). Conclusions Midazolam can correct the symptoms of metoclopramide-induced akathisia faster than diphenhydramine, but it causes more sedation.

Page last updated: 2007-08-04

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