• K Jatti, Y K Batra, N Bhardwaj, and S Malhotra.
• Department of Anaesthesiology, Postgraduate Institute of Medical Education and Research, Chandigarh, India.
• Int J Clin Pharm Th. 1998 Jun 1;36(6):336-9.

AbstractIn a prospective, double-blind, controlled, randomized study, the psychomotor functions and sedation were assessed after premedication with diazepam and clonidine in children. Forty children in the age-group of 5-8 years, undergoing elective surgery under general anesthesia were studied. Twenty children (group 1) received oral clonidine 4 microg/kg, and 20 children (group 2) received oral diazepam 0.2 mg/kg, 120 minutes before induction of anesthesia. Sedation and psychomotor functions were assessed in both groups, before and after 60-90 minutes of administration of premedication. The results of the study showed that mean sedation score in group 1 was 8 +/- 1.07, and 9 +/- 0.64 in group 2. On intergroup comparison the sedation was found to be comparatively better in group 2 than group 1 (p < 0.05). The performance of psychomotor functions decreased after premedication in both the groups as compared to that before premedication (p < 0.05). The psychomotor functions were depressed more in diazepam group than in the clonidine group (p < 0.05). Thus, it is concluded that clonidine produces good sedation and causes less effect on psychomotor functions and therefore can be used for premedication in children.

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