Sedation

Treatment for nervous patients

We have the experience and facilities to treat nervous patients using intravenous sedation. This is a specialist technique that uses a sedative to relax the patient, making the treatment more pleasant and easier to carry out.

The sedative is a drug called Midazolam, which is administered by injection into the arm or hand. Once administered, it takes three to five minutes to be fully effective. Patients are not unconscious, as with a general anaesthetic, but remain conscious throughout the procedure, which makes it much safer. However, the patient is relaxed and unconcerned about the treatment. The drug also affects the short term memory, and patients generally cannot remember much about the experience.

After the appointment, the effects of the drugs wear off fairly quickly, however there will be traces of the drug present for up to 8 hours afterwards. Patients must have a responsible adult present to escort them home by car or taxi, not public transport. The escort must be able to stay with the patient until the effects of the drugs have worn off. We cannot provide sedation without an escort. Following sedation, the patient must not operate any machinery, drive or sign any important documents until all traces of the drug have left the body.

Intravenous sedation can be used for most patients, although there are some medical conditions and medicines that can preclude its use. It is also not suitable for the elderly, under 16s or patients with mental health problems.