Adult prescription instructions: Oral sedation

These prescriptions are provided as a baseline as recommended by professional guidelines and standard texts, intended for use by average sized middle-aged adults with no significant medical history, risk factors or concomitant medications. Clinicians are reminded that such prescriptions may not be appropriate for all adult patients, and as such, should always be tailored to individual patient circumstances, accounting for variations in age, weight, co-morbidities, risk factors and concomitant medication.  For advice, consult specialised resources or expert clinicians.

Source: Therapeutic Guidelines Oral and Dental v3. 2019

Temazepam

Rx Temazepam 10mg tabs
Take 1x tablet with water 1hr prior to procedure at the dental practice
Supply 5 tabs.

Considerations:

  • PBS subsidises up to 25x tabs per script. However, it is preferred only a smaller amount is supplied that can be used on subsequent visits.

  • If 10mg proves to not provide sufficient anxiety relief, the dose can be increased to 20mg (2 tablets) on a subsequent visit.

  • Is the preferred oral sedative for dental procedures.

Lorazepam

Rx Lorazepam 1mg tabs
Take 1x tablet with water 1hr prior to procedure at the dental practice
Supply 5 tabs.

Considerations:

  • Not covered under PBS scheme

  • If 1mg proves to not provide sufficient anxiety relief, the dose can be increased to 2mg (2 tablets) on a subsequent visit.

Diazepam

Rx Diazepam 5mg tabs
Take 1x tablet with water 1hr prior to procedure at the dental practice
Supply 5x tabs. 

PBS considerations:

  • PBS subsidises up to 50 tabs per script. However, it is preferred that only a smaller amount is supplied that can be used on subsequent visits.

  • Has a prolonged duration of action and can cause prolonged drowsiness.

PBS = Pharmaceutical Benefits Scheme.

Refs:

1)         Oral and Dental Expert Group. Therapeutic Guidelines: Oral and Dental. Version 3. Melbourne: Therapeutic Guidelines Limited; 2019.

2)         Rossi S ( ed) Australian Medicines Handbook 2024 (online). Adelaide: Australian Medicines Handbook Pty Ltd; Last updated 2024 July.