Music can be a viable alternative to medications in reducing anxiety before anesthesia

Music is a viable alternative to sedative medications in reducing patient anxiety prior to a peripheral nerve block procedure, according to a new study. Patients commonly take sedative medications, like midazolam, prior to the procedure to reduce anxiety. In this study, researchers found a track of relaxing music to be similarly effective to the intravenous form of midazolam in reducing a patient's anxiety prior to the procedure.