Premedication

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