premedication
Last reviewed 01/2018
Aims of premedication are as follows:
- reduce anxiety - variable, depending on the needs of the patient - use anxiolytics
- reduce the parasympathetic excretion which is normally enhanced by general anaesthetics, e.g. salivary, lacrimal - use anticholinergics, e.g. hyoscine
- reduce autonomic nervous system reflexes, which is particularly useful in eye and gonadal surgery
- amnesia and active sedation - e.g. anxiolytics which produce orthograde amnesia such as lorazepam, temazepam
- adjuvants to anaesthesia, depending on circumstances:
- antacids, particularly H2-receptor antagonists
- antibiotics
- antiemesis
- analgesia
- bronchodilators
- steroids, e.g. adrenal insufficiency
- local anaesthetic, e.g. EMLA for siting IV lines in children