Seventy-five women undergoing elective day case gynaecological surgery were randomised into one of three groups to receive an oral formulation of midazolam IV solution 10 mg, temazepam 20 mg or placebo for premedication. The two treatment groups showed a significant reduction in anxiety score compared with placebo (P less than 0.002 and P less than 0.04 for placebo compared with temazepam and midazolam respectively). Similarly the treatment groups showed a significantly greater sedation score compared with placebo. Recovery as assessed by letter deletion and memory tests was no worse for the treatment groups than for placebo. Patient acceptance of the two treatment groups was significantly greater than that of placebo. There was no significant difference between treatment groups with respect to anxiolysis, sedation or recovery. As a day case premedicant, midazolam IV solution 10 mg orally was found to be as effective as temazepam 20 mg and superior to placebo, in terms of anxiolysis and sedation, but did not offer any clinical advantage over temazepam in this setting.