Evaluation of intravenous diazepam as a surgical premedicant.

Intravenous diazepam was administered to 4 groups of 35 patients as a surgical premedicant, double blind and according to a randomized sequence. Four dosages were used: 2.5, 5, 10, and 20 mg. Amnesia, relief of anxiety, sedation, and patient acceptance were primarily evaluated. While a significant linear dose effect was found for sedation, anxiety releief, and patient acceptance, this was not true for anmesia, which was clinically present only with doses of 10 and 20 mg. No significant adverse effects were noted at any dosage, and vital signs remained stable in all patients studied.