A BRIEF SUMMARY OF INTRAVENOUS ANAESTHETICS

Key: B BD A ARYLCYCLOHEXAMINE I IMIDAZOLE P ALKYL PHENOL RAPID-ACTING AGENTS SLOWER-ACTING AGENTS

AMOBARBITAL B THIAMYLAL B DIAZEPAM BD ETOMIDATE I PROPOFOL P

ALONG WITH OTHER , LIKE OTHER BARBITURATES, STRONG BUT MORE COMMONLY KNOWN BY ITS FREQUENTLY USED FOR ANAESTHESIA FOR HAS LARGELY REPLACED THIOPENTAL FOR PREVIOUSLY USED AS A ‘TRUTH SERUM’ SHORT-ACTING BRAND NAME, VALIUM EMERGENCY INTUBATION INDUCTION OF ANAESTHESIA O O Cl O OH NH NH N O O O N S N NH NH N O O Intermediate duration of action. It is a Very short duration of action. Thiamylal is still Long duration of action. In its use as an anti- Fairly short duration of action. Used as Short duration of action. Widely used agent, and can be used to treat in current use as an induction agent, and is anxiety medication it has been nicknamed an induction agent for short surgical for both induction and maintenance of insomnia. It was also used by the US army also used as an anti-convulsant to limit the ‘Mother’s Little Helper’. In anaesthesia, it is procedures; the chances of a large drop in anaesthesia, and often given with opioids to in WWII as an attempted treatment for shell side effects experienced from the use of often used to induce moderate sedation. blood pressure are lower than for other help ease pain. Awakening is rapid and can shock, but proved largely ineffective. other anaesthetics. Also used for benzodiazapine dependence. anaesthetics. No longer used very widely. also be accompanied by mild euphoria.

1929 1934 YEAR AVAILABLE FOR CLINICAL USE 1950 1957 1966 1973 1977 1978

THIOPENTAL B METHOHEXITAL B KETAMINE A LORAZEPAM BD BD

PREVIOUSLY USED FOR LETHAL LOWERS SEIZURE THRESHOLD; USEFUL FOR ALSO USED AS A RECREATIONAL DRUG ALSO USED FOR SHORT-TERM TREATMENT REPLACED THIOPENTAL FOR USE IN INJECTIONS IN THE USA ELECTROCONVULSIVE SHOCK THERAPY OF ANXIETY LETHAL INJECTIONS IN THE USA O O Cl Cl HN N NH NH O NH N O S O N NH N Cl OH N O O Cl F Very short duration of action. Its use in lethal Very short duration of action, and faster Short duration of action. Doesn’t suppress Long duration of action. Often used to Short duration of action. Midazolam is two to injections was ceased after the EU banned its recovery rate than with some other breathing as much as other anaesthetics, but treat anxiety disorders under the brand three times as potent as diazepam, and has a export for this purpose. Used as an induction barbiturates. Also cheaper than propofol. can also cause hallucinations. Often used to name ‘Ativan’. Sometimes given before faster onset. Also used in end-of-life care to agent to induce loss of consciousness, but Commonly used for outpatient surgical and induce and maintain anaesthesia in severely awake procedures as it can also prevent the help reduce agitation and anxiety, and in the largely replaced by propofol. dental procedures. injured patients. formation of new memories. management of seizures.

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