Objective To investigate the effects of remimazolam on bispectral index (BIS) and hemodynamic changes during the induction of general anesthesia. Methods A total of 92 patients who underwent endotracheal intubation under general anesthesia were selected. According to the random number table method, they were divided into two groups (n=46): a remimazolam group (group R) and a propofol group (group P). Group R was infused by pump with 0.4 mg/kg remimazolam at a rate of 24 mg·kg−1·h−1, while group P was infused by pump with 2 mg/kg propofol at a rate of 120 mg·kg−1·h−1. When bispectral index (BIS)≤60, patients in both groups were intravenously injected with 0.2 mg/kg cisatracurium and 0.3 μg/kg sufentanil for endotracheal intubation. Then, the time from induction to BIS≤60 was recorded. Their heart rate (HR), mean artery pressure (MAP), BIS before induction (T0), before endotracheal intubation (T1), and after endotracheal intubation (T2) were recorded. The rescue sedation, intraoperative awareness and the incidence of bradycardia, hypotension, hypertension, and injection pain during the induction of anesthesia were recorded. Results Group R presented longer sedation onset time than group P (P<0.05). There was no statistical difference in BIS value between the two groups at each time point (P>0.05). There was no statistical difference in HR and MAP between the two groups at T0 (P>0.05). Compared with group P, group P showed increases in HR at T1 and in MAP at T1 and T2 (P<0.05). Compared with those at T0, group P presented decrease in HR at T1 and decreases in MAP at T1 and T2 (P<0.05). No rescue sedation, intraoperative awareness and hypertension occurred during anesthesia induction in both groups. The incidences of hypotension and injection pain in group P was higher than those in group R (P<0.05). There was no statistical difference in the incidence of bradycardia between the two groups (P>0.05). Conclusions Administration of 0.4 mg/kg remimazolam at a rate of 24 mg·kg−1·h−1 requires long sedation onset time, but can produce good sedation with stable hemodynamics during induction of general anesthesia.