Reptile · Trachemys scripta elegans · typical adult weight 0.20–2.20 kg
Midazolam is dosed at 1.5 mg/kg IM once (sedation) in red-eared sliders, per Oppenheim YC, Moon PF. Sedative effects of midazolam in red-eared sliders (Trachemys scripta elegans). J Zoo Wildl Med. 1995;26:409-413. — Source: Carpenter's Exotic Animal Formulary, 6th Ed, p.247 — Carpenter's Exotic Animal Formulary 6th ed, Table 4.5 (Chemical Restraint/Anesthetic Agents Used in Reptiles.a). The copy held is an ebook conversion with no printed page numbers, so the table — not the page — is the citable location. — SOURCE EDITION: Carpenter's Exotic Animal Formulary — ISBN 9780323833929, https://openlibrary.org/isbn/9780323833929. Midazolam is used in red-eared sliders for Sedation. Routes documented in red-eared sliders: IM. A typical adult red-eared slider weighs 0.20–2.20 kg. ExoticRx lists 1 cited dose rule for Midazolam in red-eared sliders, drawn from published veterinary references. Verify against current literature before clinical use.
US trade names: Versed
| Route | Dose | Frequency | Indication | Evidence | Source |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| IM | 1.5 mg/kg | once (sedation) | Sedation | Moderate | Oppenheim YC, Moon PF. Sedative effects of midazolam in red-eared sliders (Trachemys scripta elegans). J Zoo Wildl Med. 1995;26:409-413. — Source: Carpenter's Exotic Animal Formulary, 6th Ed, p.247 — Carpenter's Exotic Animal Formulary 6th ed, Table 4.5 (Chemical Restraint/Anesthetic Agents Used in Reptiles.a). The copy held is an ebook conversion with no printed page numbers, so the table — not the page — is the citable location. — SOURCE EDITION: Carpenter's Exotic Animal Formulary — ISBN 9780323833929, https://openlibrary.org/isbn/9780323833929 |
Every held source for this drug and species, as printed. Where they differ, both are shown — the choice is yours, not ours.
The sources disagree for this combination. The ranges below do not overlap on a comparable route. This is not an error in one of them — published veterinary references differ, and reconciling them for a particular patient is a clinical judgement.
| Dose (mg/kg) | Route | Source | As printed |
|---|---|---|---|
| 0.1–1 | IM | BSAVA Small Animal Formulary, 10th ed — Part B (Exotic Pets)p.219 | 0.1-1 mg/kg i.m. for light sedation in snakes, lizards and chelonians e |
| 1.5 | IM | BSAVA Small Animal Formulary, 10th ed — Part B (Exotic Pets)p.219 | 1.5 mg/kg i.m. provides variable levels of sedation f; Can be combined with ketamine and/or opioids |
| 1 | IM | Carpenter's Exotic Animal Formulary, 6th edTable 4.5 | 1 mg/kg IM |
| 1.5 |
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Enhances GABA-A receptor activity, increasing chloride conductance. Provides anxiolysis, sedation, muscle relaxation, and anticonvulsant effects.
May cause paradoxical excitement in healthy dogs when used alone. Water-soluble (less painful IM than diazepam). Respiratory depression at high doses. Flumazenil is the reversal agent.
Species-specific contraindications and adverse-reaction reports for red-eared sliders may differ from canine / feline reference data — consult the primary citations listed with each rule.
Midazolam dose range in red-eared sliders, with cited source references: IM 1.5 mg/kg once (sedation). Reference ranges from cited sources — verify against current literature before clinical use.
Documented routes for Midazolam in red-eared sliders: IM.
Midazolam is indicated in red-eared sliders for: Sedation.
These are general warnings for Midazolam across species; consult the red-eared slider dosing table above for species-specific guidance. May cause paradoxical excitement in healthy dogs when used alone. Water-soluble (less painful IM than diazepam). Respiratory depression at high doses. Flumazenil is the reversal agent.
Why a species-specific page? Midazolam pharmacokinetics differ across species: dose ranges, intervals, and route preferences are not interchangeable. Cross-extrapolation from canine doses is unsafe in red-eared sliders — the rules above are the citations specific to this species, not generic recommendations.
Sourced from published veterinary references; awaiting credentialed clinical reviewer. See our editorial process. Reference only — not veterinary advice.
| IM |
| Carpenter's Exotic Animal Formulary, 6th edTable 4.5 |
| 1.5 mg/kg IM |
| 2–3 | IV | Carpenter's Exotic Animal Formulary, 6th edTable 4.5 | 2-3 mg/kg IV |
| 0.1–1 | — | Carpenter's Exotic Animal Formulary, 6th edTable 4.5 | 0.1-1 mg/kg |
| 2 | IM | Carpenter's Exotic Animal Formulary, 6th edTable 4.5 | 2 mg/kg IM,327 |
| 0.1–1 | — | Mader's Reptile and Amphibian Medicine and Surgery, 3rd edTable 127.5 | 0.1-1 mg/kg11 Multiple species/mild to moderate sedation |
| 2 | — | Mader's Reptile and Amphibian Medicine and Surgery, 3rd edTable 127.5 | 2 mg/kg IM18,19 Most species/preanesthetic; increases the efficacy of ketamine; effective in snapping turtles, not in painted turtles19 |
| 1.5 | — | Mader's Reptile and Amphibian Medicine and Surgery, 3rd edTable 127.5 | 1.5 mg/kg IM254 Turtles (red-eared sliders)/sedation; onset, 5.5 min; duration, 82 min; recovery, 40 min; much individual variability |
| 2–3 | — | Mader's Reptile and Amphibian Medicine and Surgery, 3rd edTable 127.5 | 2-3 mg/kg IV117 Hatchling leatherback sea turtles/sedation |
Figures are transcribed from the cited page or table of each held edition and are shown for reference only. They are not dose recommendations, they do not feed the calculator, and none has been reviewed by a veterinarian.