Lorazepam and morphine for i.v. surgical premedication

The effect of i.v. lorazepam alone, in doses of 2 mg and 4 mg, and combined with morphine 5 mg, were studied. Sedation, relief of anxiety, lack of recall, patient acceptance, physician acceptance and side-effects were evaluated. The addition of morphine to lorazepam significantly improved sedation and relief of anxiety. Physician acceptance and patient acceptance showed no significant difference between any of the combinations. Lack of recall was enhanced by increasing the dose of lorazepam from 2 mg to 4 mg, independent of the addition of morphine. The only significant side-effect was restlessness which occurred in 15% of patients receiving lorazepam 4 mg and 3% of patients receiving lorazepam 2 mg, again independent of the addition of morphine.