The anxiolytic effects of the 5-hydroxytryptamine-1A agonist tandospirone before otolaryngologic surgery

We studied 160 ASA I or H patients undergoing elective otolaryngologic surgery in order to compare the anxiolytic effects of a novel 5-hydroxytryptamine-1A agonist, tandospirone, with diazepam. To monitor preoperative anxiety, the following variables were used: systolic and diastolic arterial pressure, heart rate, and the state anxiety score yielded by the Spielberger State-Trait Anxiety Inventory. We performed pretreatment evaluation on the day before surgery and posttreatment examination immediately after entry into the operating room. In a double-blinded, randomized design, four groups of 40 patients each received one of the following oral medications 90 min before entry into the operating room: 1) tandospirone 10 mg (T10 group); 2) tandospirone 30 mg (T30 group); 3) diazepam 10 mg (D group); or 4) placebo (P group). After premedication, the State-Trait Anxiety Inventory state anxiety decreased in the T10 (P < 0.02), T30 (P < 0.02), and D groups (P < 0.001), but it increased in the P group (P < 0.001). Tandospirone, 10 and 30 mg, safely reduced preoperative anxiety to a similar extent as oral diazepam 10 mg in patients undergoing elective otolaryngologic surgery.