Benzodiazepines
Midazolam (Versed / Dormicum)
Street names: Versed, Dormicum, Midaz, The execution drug
Overdose? Act now. Call emergency services — say "unresponsive, not breathing". Give naloxone for opioid-like signs. Hotlines
⚡What it does
- Ultra-short IV sedation, anterograde amnesia — the procedural-sedation workhorse
- Rapid, powerful
⚠Key risks
- IV use by non-medical people: respiratory arrest — narrow margin, no reversal at home
- Amnesia makes dosing errors lethal (users redose forgetting they dosed)
- Used in lethal-injection protocols and US executions
- Diverted ampoules linked to overdose deaths
✚Overdose signs
- Respiratory arrest
- Unconsciousness with slow breathing
- Flaccid paralysis of breathing effort
Category comparison — Benzodiazepines
| Substance | Class | Top risks | Street price |
|---|---|---|---|
| Midazolam (Versed / Dormicum) | Schedule IV | IV use by non-medical people: respiratory arrest — narrow margin, no reversal at home; Amnesia makes dosing errors lethal (users redose forgetting they dosed) | Diverted ampoules $10–$40 each |
| Diazepam | Schedule IV | Dependence in 2–4 weeks of daily use; Dangerous withdrawal (seizures) — never stop cold turkey | ~$1–$10 per 10 mg tablet |
| Alprazolam (Xanax 2 mg) | Schedule IV | Dependence within weeks; brutal withdrawal (seizures risk); Counterfeit 'bars' increasingly contain fentanyl or bromazolam | ~$2–$10 per 2 mg bar |
| Lorazepam (Ativan 2.5 mg) | Schedule IV | Dependence and withdrawal seizures; Rebound anxiety between doses | ~$1–$5 per 2.5 mg tablet |
| Clonazepam (Rivotril/Klonopin 2 mg) | Schedule IV | Long half-life — dependence builds silently; Withdrawal can last months | ~$1–$5 per 2 mg tablet |
| Nitrazepam (Nipam 5 mg) | Schedule IV | Morning 'hangover' impairment; Dependence and falls in older users | ~$1–$4 per 5 mg tablet |
Street prices are regional estimates. Potency and cuts vary constantly.
?Frequently asked questions
What does Midazolam (Versed / Dormicum) look like?
Clear injectable ampoules (1–5 mg/mL); oral syrup; rarely diverted tablets
What are the signs of a Midazolam (Versed / Dormicum) overdose?
Respiratory arrest; Unconsciousness with slow breathing; Flaccid paralysis of breathing effort Call emergency services immediately.
How addictive is it?
IV use by non-medical people: respiratory arrest — narrow margin, no reversal at home Withdrawal can be life-threatening — medical tapering is essential.