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Related Concept Videos

Parenteral Anesthetics: Overview01:24

Parenteral Anesthetics: Overview

Intravenous anesthetics are drugs administered parenterally to induce anesthesia or sedation. Propofol is a widely used agent formulated as a 1% emulsion in soybean oil, glycerol, and egg phosphatide. It induces rapid anesthesia primarily due to its rapid distribution from the bloodstream to target tissues and is metabolized in the liver. However, it can cause significant pain on injection and hypertriglyceridemia. Fospropofol, a water-based prodrug of propofol, lacks these adverse effects.
Sedatives and Hypnotics Drugs: Barbiturates01:20

Sedatives and Hypnotics Drugs: Barbiturates

Sedatives and hypnotics encompass a drug class that acts on the central nervous system (CNS) to alleviate anxiety, promote relaxation and induce sleep.These drugs function by amplifying the actions of the neurotransmitter γ-aminobutyric acid (GABA), resulting in reduced neuronal activity. Barbiturates, a subset of sedatives and hypnotics first synthesized in the late 1800s, are categorized into ultra-short, short, intermediate, and long-acting groups based on their duration of effect. A key...
Sedatives and Hypnotics Drugs: Miscellaneous Agents01:17

Sedatives and Hypnotics Drugs: Miscellaneous Agents

Sedatives and hypnotics encompass a wide range of substances, each with its unique mechanism of action, uses, and potential adverse effects.
Melatonin congeners like ramelteon (Rozerem) and tasimelteon (Hetlioz) selectively bind to melatonin receptors (MT1 and MT2) and thus mimic the actions of melatonin, a hormone that regulates sleep-wake cycles. Tasimelteon is primarily used for non-24-hour sleep-wake disorder, common in blind patients. They are also used to treat conditions like insomnia...
CNS Depressants: Barbiturates and Benzodiazepines01:14

CNS Depressants: Barbiturates and Benzodiazepines

CNS depressants include drugs from the category of barbiturates and benzodiazepines. They are valuable medications for managing anxiety disorders and insomnia. Barbiturates, once used to induce and maintain sleep, have been replaced mainly by benzodiazepines due to barbiturate's toxicity, tolerance, and overdose risks. They interact with GABAA receptors, leading to sedation at low doses and potentially coma and death at higher doses. Phenobarbital, a long-acting barbiturate, possesses...
Inhalational Anesthetics: Overview01:20

Inhalational Anesthetics: Overview

Inhalation anesthetics are drugs that induce general anesthesia upon inhalation. They work by increasing the sensitivity of GABAA receptors or inhibiting NMDA receptors, leading to a decrease in central nervous system activity. The depth of anesthesia can be rapidly adjusted by changing the concentration of the inhaled gas. Some common examples of inhalational anesthetics include volatile liquids like isoflurane, desflurane, sevoflurane and gases like xenon and nitrous oxide. Isoflurane, a...
Sedatives and Hypnotics: Overview01:23

Sedatives and Hypnotics: Overview

Sedatives are drugs that alleviate anxiety, while hypnotics induce sleep. Both classes of medication suppress neuronal activity, leading to a calming effect for sedatives and facilitating sleep for hypnotics.
Sedative-hypnotics are categorized into barbiturates, benzodiazepines (BZDs), and non-benzodiazepines or Z-drugs. These drugs work by suppressing central nervous system activity, and this suppression is dose-dependent. Older sedative medications, like barbiturates, follow a linear curve in...

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Related Experiment Video

Updated: Jul 8, 2026

Recording Brain Electromagnetic Activity During the Administration of the Gaseous Anesthetic Agents Xenon and Nitrous Oxide in Healthy Volunteers
14:52

Recording Brain Electromagnetic Activity During the Administration of the Gaseous Anesthetic Agents Xenon and Nitrous Oxide in Healthy Volunteers

Published on: January 13, 2018

Etomidate and other non-barbiturates.

C Vanlersberghe1, F Camu

  • 1Department of Anesthesiology, University of Brussels V.U.B. Medical Center, Laarbeeklaan 101, B-1090, Brussels, Belgium. anesvec@uzbrussel.be

Handbook of Experimental Pharmacology
|January 5, 2008
PubMed
Summary

Anesthetics like etomidate target gamma-aminobutyric acid type A (GABA(A)) receptors to induce anesthesia. This review explores intravenous anesthetic targets, focusing on GABA(A) receptor identification for etomidate and aminosteroids.

More Related Videos

Assessing Changes in Volatile General Anesthetic Sensitivity of Mice after Local or Systemic Pharmacological Intervention
08:49

Assessing Changes in Volatile General Anesthetic Sensitivity of Mice after Local or Systemic Pharmacological Intervention

Published on: October 16, 2013

Related Experiment Videos

Last Updated: Jul 8, 2026

Recording Brain Electromagnetic Activity During the Administration of the Gaseous Anesthetic Agents Xenon and Nitrous Oxide in Healthy Volunteers
14:52

Recording Brain Electromagnetic Activity During the Administration of the Gaseous Anesthetic Agents Xenon and Nitrous Oxide in Healthy Volunteers

Published on: January 13, 2018

Assessing Changes in Volatile General Anesthetic Sensitivity of Mice after Local or Systemic Pharmacological Intervention
08:49

Assessing Changes in Volatile General Anesthetic Sensitivity of Mice after Local or Systemic Pharmacological Intervention

Published on: October 16, 2013

Area of Science:

  • Anesthesiology
  • Neuropharmacology
  • Molecular Biology

Background:

  • Anesthetics are widely accepted to exert their effects by binding to specific protein targets.
  • The gamma-aminobutyric acid type A (GABA(A)) receptor is a primary target for several intravenous anesthetics, including propofol, barbiturates, and etomidate.
  • The precise molecular targets for less potent steroid anesthetics are less understood.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To review the clinical and experimental pharmacology of intravenous anesthetics.
  • To identify molecular targets responsible for anesthetic effects in vivo.
  • To summarize evidence supporting the GABA(A) receptor as the key target for etomidate and aminosteroids.

Main Methods:

  • Review of clinical and experimental pharmacological data.
  • Analysis of molecular targets mediating anesthetic endpoints.
  • Synthesis of research identifying the GABA(A) receptor's role.

Main Results:

  • Etomidate, a general anesthetic, modulates or activates GABA(A) receptors, which are ionotropic Cl(-)-permeable.
  • The GABA(A) receptor is identified as a crucial target for etomidate and certain aminosteroids.
  • Research is ongoing to clarify targets for less potent steroid anesthetics.

Conclusions:

  • The GABA(A) receptor is a key molecular target for etomidate and aminosteroids.
  • Understanding these targets is crucial for advancing anesthesiology.
  • Further research is needed for a comprehensive understanding of all anesthetic targets.