WHY I.V. CONSCIOUS SEDATION IS SAFER THAN ORAL CONSCIOUS SEDATION.

The answer is titration which means the ability to add the sedative drug incrementally after monitoring the effect of each dose. 

With oral administration, the onset of sedation usually takes from 30 to 60 minutes.  However, with anxiety, the onset can be significantly delayed resulting in multiple dosing leading to overdose.  Oftentimes, the dosages of oral sedatives, particularly triazolam (Halcion), far exceed the maximum dose found in the package insert.  Since there is no I.V. access, reversal of the overdose is impossible leading to potentially life threatening consequences.

With I.V. administration, the onset of sedation is 20-25 seconds, thus allowing titration.   Therefore overdose is much less likely, and achieving optimal sedation levels is more predictable. Many I.V. drugs can be reversed.

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