Efficacy Of Sublingual Zolpidem As A Premedication In Cataract Surgery Under Topical Anesthesia

Abstract

This paper was set out to compare the efficacy of 3 mg sublingual zolpidem to act before cataract surgery performed under topical anesthesia. A randomized clinical trial was done on 75 participants (37 participants in the Zolpidem group and 38 participants in the Placebo group) as a 2-blind and placebo-controlled trial. The first one was the diminution of anxiety, evaluated in terms of the score on verbal anxiety (VAS) at various points in time. Secondary outcomes entailed pain scores, intraocular pressure (IOP), and blood pressure (BP) measurement during the surgical process. The outcome showed that zolpidem effectively decreased the level of anxiety in all time points as compared to Placebo group (P < 0.05). Although no significant variance either in pain scores, IOP, or BP was identified between the groups, one may notice a tendency toward the reduction of systolic and diastolic BP and IOP in the Zolpidem group. Negative effects on the cognitive process and vital signs were not observed in the Zolpidem group as well, which is also an advantage in their operating conditions. These pieces of evidence justify the implementation of zolpidem as one of the premedications in cataract surgical operations with topical anesthesia, facilitating better cooperation with the patient and minimizing anxiety without interfering with recovery. More research is required to determine the additive efficiency of the causative action of zolpidem on other analgesics and its practical use on a larger group of patients.