Medazepam in Comparison with Diazepam as a Premedicament in Anesthesia

Abstract

Medazepam (NOBRIUM) is a new benzodiazepine, developed by F. Hoffmann-La Roche Co., Ltd., which is known as “Daytime tranquilizer” in Europe, for its selective anxiolytic and tensionremoving effects without imparing alertness.
In order to find out the effectiveness of NOBRIUM as a premedicament, a double blind trial with Diazepam was studied. We orally administered 20mg of NOBRIUM to 27 patients and 10mg of Diazepam to 23 patients at 9:00 p. m. in the previous evening and two hours prior to the operation. Parameters analyzed were 1) sleep and anxiety at rising on the day of surgery, 2) hypnosis and anxiety before injection of the intravenous anesthetic, 3) changes in blood pressure, respiration and pulse measured at nine points of time measured before surgery compared with those measured in the previous evening, 4) hypnosis, anxiety and memory examined at three points of time in a period from the wards to the operating table, and 5) side effects.
As a result of the double blind comparison between NOBRIUM and Diazepam, it was found that NOBRIUM was as effective as Diazepam in relieving anxiety, but not so in sleep inducing effect and memory. Diazepam was somewhat superior in sleep inducing efffect, and NOBRIUM less effects on memory.
We recommend NOBRIUM for premedication, especially in the case of requiring conscious answers of the patients.