Page 1 of 2

View this article online at: patient.info/doctor/premedication

Premedication
Premedication is the administration of medication before anaesthesia. Premedication is used to prepare the patient for anaesthesia and
to help provide optimal conditions for surgery. This includes: [1]

Reduction of anxiety and pain.

Promotion of amnesia.
Reduction of secretions.
Reduction of volume and pH of gastric contents (to avoid Mendelson's syndrome).
Reduction of postoperative nausea and vomiting.
Enhancing the hypnotic effects of general anaesthesia.
Reduction of vagal reflexes to intubation.
Specific indications - eg, prevention of infective endocarditis.

Premedication is traditionally given intramuscularly but the oral route is preferred for children and those with bleeding disorders.
Premedication is usually given 1-3 hours pre-operatively. Topical anaesthetic creams (eg, EMLA®) are often prescribed for children
before cannulation.

The practice of premedication has changed over a period of a few decades. The use of strongly sedative drugs (eg, morphine and
hyoscine) to aid smooth induction and reduce salivation has been abandoned with the advent of modern intravenous and inhalational
anaesthetic agents, which have far fewer side-effects and a faster onset of action. [2] Other factors that have reduced the use of a
sedative premedication include: [2]

Increasing use of day-case surgery.

Same-day admissions - patients often do not find a bed until just before surgery.
Changes to the surgical list, making the timing of drug delivery difficult.

The choice of drug(s) used for premedication depends on the procedure, patient and anaesthetic technique. Some patients prefer not to
have premedication and potential benefits may be outweighed by potential problems (except for specific indications), especially with day-
case surgery. A Cochrane review found no evidence of a difference in time to discharge from hospital following adult day surgery in
patients who received anxiolytic premedication. [3]

Anxiety
Careful discussion of the patient's concerns is essential, including at the pre-operative assessment.
Benzodiazepines are ideal agents to reduce anxiety. They provide anterograde amnesia and light sedation. If given orally 1-2
hours before surgery they have only a small effect on cardiorespiratory function but large doses can interfere with the speed
and quality of recovery. In day-care cases, short-acting benzodiazepines (eg, temazepam) are often preferred.
Relieving anxiety and sedation may also be achieved by morphine, pethidine and fentanyl citrate. [4]
In children, oral antihistamines may be used for sedation.

Amnesia
Especially useful in the young or those having repeated general anaesthetics. May allow a lighter depth of anaesthesia by
reducing risk of awareness during surgery.
The most effective agents are lorazepam and midazolam.

Analgesia
Opioids, paracetamol and non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs reduce the required dose of anaesthetic agent and improve patient
comfort in the immediate postoperative period.

Caution must be taken when considering the use of cyclo-oxygenase-2 (COX2) inhibitors, because of their association with
increased risk of myocardial infarction and stroke. [2]
Opioids are the drugs of choice in the presence of acute pain. In the absence of pain, some people may experience intense
dysphoria.
Opioids also cause variable sedation and cardiorespiratory depression. All opioids cause nausea and vomiting and this may
outweigh any beneficial effects. Opioids may also precipitate bronchospasm or anaphylaxis.

Antivagal effects
Response to surgery often includes vagally mediated bradycardia. Anti-sialogogues (eg, glycopyrrolate intramuscularly or intravenously)
are rarely needed but may be indicated for awake fibre-optic intubation or before ketamine anaesthesia. [2]
 Page 2 of 2

Hyoscine has strong sedative, amnesic and anti-salivation properties. It is a moderately effective antiemetic and potentiates
opioids. Intramuscular atropine or hyoscine is therefore often prescribed together with an opioid.
However, anti-sialogogues cause unpleasant dry mouth.
Hyoscine is the most potent agent available, with the added advantage of amnesia and sedation. However, it can cause
significant perioperative confusion in elderly patients.

Antiemetics
Are used either to reduce the emetic effects of anaesthetic agents (antihistamines, butyrophenones, hyoscine) or to enhance
gastric emptying (metoclopramide).
Those with a risk of regurgitation of gastric contents or undergoing procedures with a high incidence of nausea and vomiting
(eg, laparoscopy) should receive agents to reduce gastric acidity.
Can use H2-receptor antagonist or proton pump inhibitors several hours pre-operatively and oral sodium citrate 15-30
minutes before induction.

Further reading & references

1. Oxford Textbook of Surgery 4th Edition 2004
2. Steeds C, Orme R; Premedication. Anaesthesia and intensive care medicine; Volume 7, Issue 11, Pages 393-396 (November 2006).
3. Walker KJ, Smith AF; Premedication for anxiety in adult day surgery. Cochrane Database Syst Rev. 2009 Oct 7;(4):CD002192. doi:
10.1002/14651858.CD002192.pub2.
4. Howell TK, Smith S, Rushman SC, et al; A comparison of oral transmucosal fentanyl and oral midazolam for premedication in children.; Anaesthesia.
2002 Aug;57(8):798-805.

Disclaimer: This article is for information only and should not be used for the diagnosis or treatment of medical conditions. Patient
Platform Limited has used all reasonable care in compiling the information but makes no warranty as to its accuracy. Consult a doctor
or other healthcare professional for diagnosis and treatment of medical conditions. For details see our conditions.

Author: Peer Reviewer:

Dr Gurvinder Rull Dr Adrian Bonsall

Document ID: Last Checked: Next Review:

575 (v4) 20/08/2014 19/08/2019

View this article online at: patient.info/doctor/premedication

Discuss Premedication and find more trusted resources at Patient.

© Patient Platform Limited - All rights reserved.