Comparison of triazolam, diazepam, and placebo as outpatient oral premedication for endodontic patients

• Published in: Journal of endodontics Vol. 23; no. 3; p. 181
• Main Authors: Ehrich, D G, Lundgren, J P, Dionne, R A, Nicoll, B K, Hutter, J W
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: United States 01-03-1997
• Subjects: Adjuvants, Anesthesia; Anesthesia, Dental - methods; Anti-Anxiety Agents; Chi-Square Distribution; Conscious Sedation - methods; Dental Anxiety - drug therapy; Diazepam; Double-Blind Method; Humans; Hypnotics and Sedatives; Preanesthetic Medication; Root Canal Therapy; Statistics, Nonparametric; Triazolam
• ISSN: 0099-2399
• DOI: 10.1016/S0099-2399(97)80272-5

Triazolam and diazepam were compared as oral antianxiety agents in a randomized double-blind, placebo-controlled clinical study of 79 endodontic patients with elevated anxiety regarding endodontic treatment. Patients who scored > or = 10 on the Corah Dental Anxiety Survey received oral formulations of triazolam (0.25 mg), diazepam (5 mg), or placebo. Before, during, and after the endodontic procedure, patients completed psychomotor tests and anxiety scales, and were evaluated for 24-h postoperative recall. In comparison with diazepam and placebo, triazolam was significantly better for decreased anxiety (p < 0.05), impaired cognitive function (p < 0.05), patients' rating of drug effectiveness (p < 0.05), and amnesia to clinical events (p < 0.02) and pictures (p < 0.03). Diazepam showed similar trends compared with placebo, but to a lesser degree. Diazepam also had a much longer recovery period. No adverse effects were noted with either drug. These findings suggest that orally administered triazolam (0.25 mg) is a safe and more effective anxiolytic agent than diazepam (5.0 mg) for endodontic patients.