Effect of metoprolol and diazepam on pre-operative anxiety.

A double-blind study of 98 patients who underwent elective hysterectomy or orthopaedic surgery was conducted to evaluate the effect of metoprolol or placebo combined with diazepam given 1-3 hours before surgery. Evaluation was by anaesthetists and by visual analogue scoring by the patients. The anaesthetists found that patients who received metoprolol were significantly less anxious (p less than 0.005) and better sedated (p less than 0.001) before induction of anaesthesia. The patients who received metoprolol found themselves more calm compared with placebo patients. Arterial blood pressure and heart rate were reduced by metoprolol compared to placebo. Metoprolol may be a valuable drug for premedication.