Alprazolam as Conscious Sedation for Upper Gastrointestinal Endoscopy

Summary

Diagnostic esophagogastroduodenoscopy is an uncomfortable and stressful procedure for most of the patients. Various methods are available for sedation during this procedure. Because of some side effects related to intravenous administration of sedatives, oral administration of these drugs is under attention. Alprazolam is a benzodiazepine which is used mainly in treatment of anxiety. Hence, we determine the efficacy of oral and sublingual alprazolam as for sedation during this procedure. We hypothesize that sublingual alprazolam is more effective than that oral form and both forms more effective than placebo in reducing anxiety and pain/discomfort related to the procedure.

Timeline

Start

2011-09

Primary completion

2012-10

Completion

2013-01

Publications

• Background Hedenbro JL, Ekelund M, Aberg T, Lindblom A. Oral sedation for diagnostic upper endoscopy. Endoscopy. 1991 Jan;23(1):8-10. doi: 10.1055/s-2007-1010598.
• Shavakhi A, Soleiman S, Gholamrezaei A, Khodadoostan M, Shavakhi S, Tahery A, Minakari M. Premedication with sublingual or oral alprazolam in adults undergoing diagnostic upper gastrointestinal endoscopy. Endoscopy. 2014 Aug;46(8):633-9. doi: 10.1055/s-0034-1377305. Epub 2014 Jun 30.

Drugs

Indications

No indication recorded.