Korean J Anesthesiol.  2015 Aug;68(4):346-351. 10.4097/kjae.2015.68.4.346.

Use of triazolam and alprazolam as premedication for general anesthesia

• Kim D
• Lee S
• Pyeon T
• Jeong S

• KMID: 2152876
• DOI: http://doi.org/10.4097/kjae.2015.68.4.346

Abstract

BACKGROUND
Triazolam has similar pharmacological properties as other benzodiazepines and is generally used as a sedative to treat insomnia. Alprazolam represents a possible alternative to midazolam for the premedication of surgical patients. The purpose of this study was to evaluate the anxiolytic, sedative, and amnestic properties of triazolam and alprazolam as pre-anesthetic medications.
METHODS
Sixty adult patients were randomly allocated to receive oral triazolam 0.25 mg or alprazolam 0.5 mg one hour prior to surgery. A structured assessment interview was performed in the operating room (OR), the recovery room, and the ward. The levels of anxiety and sedation were assessed on a 7-point scale (0 = relaxation to 6 = very severe anxiety) and a 5-point scale (0 = alert to 4 = lack of responsiveness), respectively. The psychomotor performance was estimated using a digit symbol substitution test. As a memory test, we asked the patients the day after the surgery if they remembered being moved from the ward to the OR, and what object we had shown them in the OR.
RESULTS
There were no significant differences between the groups with respect to anxiety and sedation. The postoperative interviews showed that 22.2% of the triazolam-treated patients experienced a loss of memory in the OR, against a 0% memory loss in the alprazolam-treated patients. In comparison with alprazolam 0.5 mg, triazolam 0.25 mg produced a higher incidence of amnesia without causing respiratory depression.
CONCLUSIONS
Oral triazolam 0.25 mg can be an effective preanesthetic medication for psychomotor performance.

Keyword

Alprazolam; Amnesia; Premedication; Triazolam

MeSH Terms

Adult
Alprazolam*
Amnesia
Anesthesia, General*
Anxiety
Benzodiazepines
Humans
Incidence
Memory
Memory Disorders
Midazolam
Operating Rooms
Preanesthetic Medication
Premedication*
Psychomotor Performance
Recovery Room
Relaxation
Respiratory Insufficiency
Sleep Initiation and Maintenance Disorders
Triazolam*
Alprazolam
Benzodiazepines
Midazolam
Triazolam