Effects of Oral Lorazepam versus Oral Alprazolam on the Postoperative Cognitive Function

Dr. Abhishek Ganguly; Dr. Rita Haldar (Dasgupta)

Volume : VIII, Issue : VI, June - 2019

Effects of Oral Lorazepam versus Oral Alprazolam on the Postoperative Cognitive Function

Dr. Abhishek Ganguly, Dr. Rita Haldar Dasgupta

Abstract :

Objectives: To compare the effect of oral Lorazepam 1 mg or oral alprazolam 0.5 mg given at night before surgery on cognitive function in patients undergoing elective general surgery receiving general anaesthesia. Methodology: In a prospective double-blind manner 128 patients aged 30 to 50 years belonging to ASA I and II scheduled for elective surgery under general anaesthesia were randomly divided into two equal groups. Group A (n=64) received oral lorazepam 1 mg and Group B (n=64) received oral alprazolam 0.5 mg). Cognitive function were assessed by 1. Rey�s Auditory Verbal Learning test, (RAVLT) test to assess the ability to form new verbal memory, 2. Trail Making Test (TMT) part A to assess psychomotor ability and 3. Digit Span Test to assess short term verbal memory. These were assessed thrice: 1) during preoperative assessment, 2) 30 minutes before induction and 3) 30 minutes after reversal of general anaesthesia, Results: Oral alprazolam affected cognitive processing speed more than oral lorazepam and the association was statistically significant (P-value <0.05) in one of the three tests performed. Other two tests showed statistically insignificant results. Conclusion: Lorazepam might be a better anxiolytic premedicant than alprazolam.