Help. Not a nurse, but really scared about Versed sedation

caroladybelle, BSN, RN · Feb 28, 2015

These are things best addressed by your MD. We cannot give strictly medical advice but this question is one that has a great deal on the Internet.

I will address you as someone that has had both procedures, every few years for the last 32 years. And I have had them with both with and without sedation.

I had the first few colonoscopies without sedation and do not recommend it. While not excruciating, it tends to make you feel very cramping and as they pass the tube, it can be quite a disturbing sensation. Part of the procedure involves them injecting air into the bowel. This allows them to see better, aids them in passing the tube and reduces risk of injury to the bowel, by inflating it. You will pass the air naturally during and after the procedure. But the inflation tends to add a really gassy feeling.

The upper endoscopy - almost everyone needs some sedation. It is difficult for most people to tolerate a tube going down the tube and being there without coughing.

And if you think about it, if the patient is anxious, nervous or anticipating/experiencing pain, everything tends to "clamp down" making it much harder to pass the tube, and might cause more issues.

Conscious sedation used for the procedures consist usually of a narcotic pain med ( fentanyl, or morphine) and a sedative ( Valium or versed). The pain med generally reduces discomfort from the procedure. The sedation helps you relax. When the versed is given with a narcotic pain med are, they often create almost an amnesia sort of effect. Some pts may remember the procedure ( I remember several of mine), but generally don't recall anything distressing about it.

In some places, propofol is used, and you generally won't remember anything.

During the procedure, you will be monitored closely. You will usually be attached to a cardiac monitor, a sat probe to measure oxygenation, and you will have some oxygen on. You will be monitored closely after sedation is given, during the procedure and until you wake up adequately from the sedation. With the upper endoscopy, they will also see if your swallow/gag reflex is adequate ( they usually numb the throat to help you tolerate it), and check for nausea. And you will pass some of the gas injected for the procedure.

Mavrick, BSN, RN · Feb 28, 2015

Versed belongs to a class of drugs called Benzodiazepines that include Valium. Perhaps you are more familiar with the drug Valium because the real use of Versed is to reduce anxiety. Certainly a beneficial side-effect is the amnesia part but as the previous poster so adequately described it doesn't cause a complete "blackout" but more of a "so what, no big deal" response.

Whatever website you are reading is WAY overdramatizing the procedure and whoever you are talking to is not your friend and is trying to scare you.

Good for you to seek out a little more reasonable explanation of the procedure. Yeah, it's a little uncomfortable and embarrassing to some but you have a great excuse to fart up a storm. In fact it's encouraged, you can tell the person giving you your ride home!

Take care and do come back to let us know how you did.

madwife2002, BSN, RN · Feb 28, 2015

We are unable to give medical advice on this website, may I suggest you contact your GP or NP for support