Comparison of sublingually and orally administered triazolam for premedication before oral surgery.
OBJECTIVE
This study evaluated sublingual administration of triazolam for preoperative sedation in dental outpatients.


METHODS
A double-blind, placebo-controlled study compared 0.25 mg sublingual triazolam, 0.25 mg oral triazolam, and placebo administered 1 hour before oral surgery.


RESULTS
Sublingual triazolam resulted in significantly less anxiety and pain at 15 minutes intraoperatively than both oral triazolam and placebo (p < 0.05). Patients' global evaluation of the efficacy of sedation ranked sublingual triazolam as significantly more efficacious than placebo (p < 0.05) with oral triazolam intermediate between the two. No difference was demonstrated in the rate of recovery or incidence of side effects between the two drug groups. Plasma triazolam levels were higher after sublingual administration during and after the surgical procedure.


CONCLUSIONS
These results indicate that sublingual triazolam results in greater anxiolytic activity and less pain perception than oral administration as a result of greater plasma drug levels and may be useful as an alternative for nonparenteral outpatient sedation.
Berthold
C W
CW
National Institute of Dental Research, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, Md, USA.
Dionne
R A
RA
Corey
S E
SE
D000284:Administration, Oral; D000286:Administration, Sublingual; D000328:Adult; D000766:Anesthesia, Dental / Q000379:methods*; D001682:Biological Availability; D016292:Procedural Sedation / Q000379:methods*; D004311:Double-Blind Method; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D006993:Hypnotics and Sedatives / Q000008:administration & dosage* / Q000097:blood / Q000493:pharmacokinetics; D008297:Male; D008347:Manifest Anxiety Scale; D008964:Molar, Third / Q000601:surgery; D017063:Outcome Assessment, Health Care; D010147:Pain Measurement; D011229:Preanesthetic Medication; D012044:Regression Analysis; D014081:Tooth Extraction; D014229:Triazolam / Q000008:administration & dosage* / Q000097:blood / Q000493:pharmacokinetics
D006993:Hypnotics and Sedatives; D014229:Triazolam