Pain and clinical thrombophlebitis following intravenous diazepam and lorazepam |
| |
| Authors: | C. W. Graham MD PhD R. R. Pagano MD J. T. Conner MD |
| |
| Affiliation: | Resident in Anaesthesia, Department of Anesthesiology, University of California at Los Angeles, Lou Angeles, California 90024, USA;Resident in Anaesthesia, Department of Anesthesiology, University of California at Los Angeles, Lou Angeles, California 90024, USA;Assistant Professor, Department of Anesthesiology, University of California at Los Angeles, Lou Angeles, California 90024, USA |
| |
| Abstract: | Eighty-seven per cent of surgical patients receiving undiluted diazepam experienced pain on injection while 6-16%, depending on the dose, manifested evidence of clinical thrombophlebitis. This was improved when diazepam, 10 mg, was diluted to 20-40 ml with intravenous solution. In contrast, lorazepam appeared to have minimal irritative or injurious effects on veins whether undiluted or diluted. In view of these results and clinical studies reporting a higher patient acceptance of lorazepam than diazepam, lorazepam may be a superior drug for use in anaesthesia. |
| |
| Keywords: | COMPLICATIONS pain thrombosis HYPNOTICS benzodiazepines diazepam lorazepam VEINS phlebitis |
|
|
