"Valium Gas" in film... possible in reality?

[lighterbandit]

Solubilize midazolam in water and distribute as a mist in your humidifier. Soon you will be... well asleep, I suppose.

could a specially-built humidifier distribute solubilized-valium gas in the same way it did in the film? my boy who owns the movie also wants to know if its actually possible, and also if its actually used anywhere in the present world.

 

[Riemann Zeta]

I don't think that it is presently used in the real world, but the explanation in the film holds--it is certainly possible. Diazepam would work fairly well in theory, but midazolam would be the best choice, I think.

 

[ebola?]

My vote still goes for triazolam, given that .5 mg is a heavy dose.

ebola

 

[CretiNation]

Methohexital would be quick and effective but being a barbiturate the dose would have to be very carefully considered... although the incredibly short half-life and duration could make that easy to deal with.

 

[Riemann Zeta]

Barbs are so much easier to overdose with, however. Unlike benzodiazepines, they act as direct GABA-A receptor agonists at high doses.

 

[Ham-milton]

Barbs are so much easier to overdose with, however. Unlike benzodiazepines, they act as direct GABA-A receptor agonists at high doses.

Are you positive? Benzos are direct agonists primarily, but barbs are primarily allosteric modulators, no?

 

[Riemann Zeta]

Exact opposite: benzos are primarily allosteric modulators at all concentrations, barbs become direct agonist (i.e. acting without concomitant GABA) compounds at high-ish concentrations. Both, however, potentiate alcohol.

 

[Ham-milton]

Exact opposite: benzos are primarily allosteric modulators at all concentrations, barbs become direct agonist (i.e. acting without concomitant GABA) compounds at high-ish concentrations. Both, however, potentiate alcohol.

At what sort of dose do they switch over? Are we talking like death doses?

I would imagine something that's both an allosteric modulator and a direct agonist would be quite dangerous.