Premedication

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1. any sedative, tranquilizer, hypnotic, or anticholinergic medication administered before anesthesia. n 2. the administration of medication before anesthesia or an invasive procedure.

1. Administration of drugs prior to anesthesia to allay apprehension, produce sedation, and facilitate the administration of anesthesia to the patient.
2. A drug or drugs used for such purposes.

Preliminary medication, particularly internal medication to produce sedation or narcosis prior to general anesthesia, e.g. acepromazine, diazepam, promethazine.

Premedication refer 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 2 or more drugs, eg dexamethasone, diphenhydramine and omeprazole) given to a patient minutes to hours before the chemotherapy to avert side effects or hypersensitivity reactions (i.e. allergic reactions).

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