Which statement about midazolam is FALSE?

Which statement about midazolam is FALSE?

• A. Midazolam has greater amnestic properties than sedative properties.
• B. It produces anterograde amnesia.
• C. It produces retrograde amnesia.
• D. It facilitates the inhibitory neurotransmitter GABA's actions in the CNS.

Answer: (C)

Midazolam works by enhancing GABA’s effect in the brain, specifically at GABA-A receptors, which increases chloride influx and dampens neuronal activity. This pharmacologic action produces sedation and, most notably, amnesia—primarily the inability to form new memories while the drug is active (anterograde amnesia). It does not typically disrupt memories that were already formed before administration, so retrograde amnesia is not a usual effect. That makes the statement about retrograde amnesia false. The drug’s profile also includes clear amnestic and sedative properties due to the same GABAergic mechanism, fitting with how midazolam is used in perioperative settings.

Midazolam works by enhancing GABA’s effect in the brain, specifically at GABA-A receptors, which increases chloride influx and dampens neuronal activity. This pharmacologic action produces sedation and, most notably, amnesia—primarily the inability to form new memories while the drug is active (anterograde amnesia). It does not typically disrupt memories that were already formed before administration, so retrograde amnesia is not a usual effect. That makes the statement about retrograde amnesia false. The drug’s profile also includes clear amnestic and sedative properties due to the same GABAergic mechanism, fitting with how midazolam is used in perioperative settings.