A comparison of triazolam and diazepam as premedication agents for minor gynaecological surgery.
Triazolam 0.25 mg, diazepam 10 mg and placebo were compared in a randomized double-blind trial of oral premedication in 90 patients undergoing minor gynaecological surgery. Both triazolam and diazepam produced a significant sedative effect as measured by patient self assessment linear analogue scales but only diazepam was more anxiolytic than placebo. Psychomotor performance assessed by the letter-search test at 3 and 6 hours after awakening showed a decrement in performance in patients receiving triazolam at 3 hours compared with the two other groups. Triazolam was shown to have a pronounced amnesic effect and whilst it might be used for premedication, its lack of anxiolysis coupled with a significant impairment of psychomotor performance at 3 hours after awakening, render the drug unsuitable for premedication in the short stay patient.
Pinnock
C A
CA
Fell
D
D
Hunt
P C
PC
Miller
R
R
Smith
G
G
D000328:Adult; D014151:Anti-Anxiety Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D001007:Anxiety; D002986:Clinical Trials as Topic; D003975:Diazepam / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D004311:Double-Blind Method; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008875:Middle Aged; D011229:Preanesthetic Medication; D011247:Pregnancy; D011597:Psychomotor Performance / Q000187:drug effects; D014229:Triazolam / Q000627:therapeutic use*
D014151:Anti-Anxiety Agents; D014229:Triazolam; D003975:Diazepam