[Premedication with triazolam].

The suitability of triazolam for oral premedication was evaluated in comparison to flunitrazepam. 65 consenting female patients scheduled for gynaecological surgery took part in the trial, were randomly allocated in two groups and were given 0.5 mg triazolam or 2 mg of flunitrazepam as oral premedication 90 min preoperatively. No difference was found in the anxiolytic potency (possible difference d = 0.65 standard deviation, less than 3 points on the anxiety score). Both drugs significantly reduced anxiety (alpha less than 0.01). Anxiolysis depended on the initial anxiety; the higher the initial anxiety score, the better the anxiolytic effect. Triazolam was found to have an antidepressant effect (alpha less than 0.05) and asthenic affects decreased (n.s.). Flunitrazepam had a tendency to increase depression (n.s.) and asthenic effects increased (alpha less than 0.05). No differences were found in the degree of sedation and in the amnestic effect. Systolic pressure remained unchanged in both groups, whereas values of diastolic pressure increased to the same extent in both groups. While heart rate increased after triazolam, it decreased after flunitrazepam. Both groups had comparable initial heart rates. Possible mechanisms to explain this discordance of heart rate-changes are discussed. Triazolam is comparable to flunitrazepam as an oral premedicant and is a suitable drug for short surgical procedures if rapid postoperative recovery is required.