Anaesthetics

by Nicolae Sfetcu | posted in: Drugs | 0

A wide variety of drugs are used in modern anaesthetic practice. Many are rarely used outside of anaesthesia, although others are used commonly by all disciplines. Some of the prominent ones include:

local anaesthetics
general anaesthetics
- inhalational anaesthetics
  - volatile anaesthetics
    - desflurane
      sevoflurane
      isoflurane
      halothane
      enflurane
      methoxyflurane
  - nitrous oxide
  - xenon
- intravenous anaesthetics
  - propofol
    etomidate
  - barbiturates
    - methohexital
      thiopentone/thiopental
  - benzodiazepines
    - midazolam
    - diazepam
  - ketamine
analgesics
- opioids
  - morphine
  - fentanyl
  - alfentanil
    sufentanil
    remifentanil
  - methadone
  - meperidine / pethidine
- NSAIDs
muscle relaxants
- depolarising muscle relaxants
  - succinylcholine, also known as suxamethonium
- nondepolarising (curare-like) muscle relaxants
  - atracurium
    cisatracurium
    vecuronium
    rocuronium
    mivacurium
    tubocurarine (see mislabelled article “turbocurnanine” under “search.” Can this article be placed correctly under tubocurarine also?)
    pancuronium bromide
vasoconstrictors, also known as vasopressors
- phenylephrine
- ephedrine
- metaraminol
antiemetics: phenothiazines, e.g.: prochlorperazine, promethazine, cyclizine;
butyrophenones, e.g.: droperidol; antihistamines, e.g.: dimenhydrinate (old); newer agents: ondansetron and tropisetron, and granisetron; steroids, e.g.: dexamethasone; and lastly, metoclopramide (variable efficacy).