Properties of sedatives commonly used in the MICU
| Anaesthetic agent | Onset after intravenous administration | Metabolism | Half life of parent compound | Prolonged action with: |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Diazepam | 2–5 minutes | Liver | 20–120 hours | Liver disease |
| Renal disease | ||||
| Midazolam | 2–5 minutes | Liver | 3–11 hours | Liver disease |
| Renal disease | ||||
| Propofol | ||||
| Macrolides | ||||
| Diltiazem | ||||
| P450 inhibitors | ||||
| Lorazepam | 5–20 minutes | Liver | 8–15 hours | Liver disease |
| Renal disease | ||||
| Haloperidol | 3–20 minutes | Liver | 18–54 hours | Liver disease |
| Propofol | 1–2 minutes | 26–32 hours | Infusion >12 hours |