Diazepam and Lorazepam for Intravenous Surgical Premedication

Abstract

Diazepam, 10 and 20 mg, and 2 and 4 mg lorazepam were studied as i.v. surgical premedicants in 120 patients. Relief of anxiety, sedation, patient acceptance, lack of recall and side effects were the variables evaluated. Both diazepam and lorazepam proved to be excellent surgical premedicants. The basic difference between the 2 drugs was temporal. The clinical effects of i.v. diazepam peaked in 2-3 min and diminished thereafter. Lorazepam i.v. had a latent period of 8-15 min, with increasing effects at 15-30 min.