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Premedication

Editor-in-Chief: Santosh Patel M.D., FRCA [1]

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Overview

Premedication refers to a drug treatment given to a patient before a (surgical or invasive) medical procedure. These drugs are typically sedative or analgesic.

Premedication before chemotherapy for cancer often refers to special drug regimens (usually 3 drugs, eg dexamethasone, diphenhydramine and omeprazole) given to a patient hours or minutes before the chemotherapy to avert hypersensitivity reactions (allergic reactions).

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