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Related Concept Videos

Stages of General Anesthesia01:22

Stages of General Anesthesia

Various sedation levels offer significant advantages in facilitating procedural interventions for patients undergoing medical or invasive surgical procedures. These levels span from anxiolysis to general anesthesia, providing a spectrum of sedative effects to cater to specific patient needs. Anxiolysis reduces anxiety and is achieved through minimal sedation, enabling patients to remain awake and responsive while feeling more at ease during the procedure. This level can benefit minor...
Depolarizing Blockers: Mechanism of Action01:28

Depolarizing Blockers: Mechanism of Action

Depolarizing blockers act on skeletal muscle fibers' membranes and induce their depolarization. Most depolarizing blockers have two quaternary N+ atoms that bind the nicotinic acetylcholine receptors and cause neuromuscular blockade within minutes.
Succinylcholine is the most commonly used depolarizing blocker. Chemically, it constitutes two molecules of acetylcholine joined together by an acetate methyl group. They act on the receptors in the same way as acetylcholine. Because succinylcholine...
Skeletal Muscle Relaxants: Adverse Effects01:21

Skeletal Muscle Relaxants: Adverse Effects

Skeletal muscle relaxants are widely used for muscle paralysis and relieving pain following any muscle injury or stiffness. However, depending on the drug type, they can have adverse effects that range from mild to severe. Usually, nondepolarizing neuromuscular blockers have minimal side effects. For example, drugs like d-tubocurarine, cisatracurium, and rocuronium cause hypotension, whereas drugs like baclofen, when stopped abruptly, can lead to the recurrence of spastic conditions.
Unlike...
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...
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...

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Related Experiment Video

Updated: May 11, 2026

Paradigms for Pharmacological Characterization of C. elegans Synaptic Transmission Mutants
18:01

Paradigms for Pharmacological Characterization of C. elegans Synaptic Transmission Mutants

Published on: August 18, 2008

Sedation and paralysis.

Annop Piriyapatsom1, Edward A Bittner, Jessica Hines

  • 1Department of Anesthesia, Critical Care, and Pain Medicine, Massachusetts General Hospital, Boston, Massachusetts 02115, USA.

Respiratory Care
|May 28, 2013
PubMed
Summary

This review examines sedation and neuromuscular blocking agents for critically ill patients. It proposes a strategy for the rational use of these essential intensive care unit (ICU) medications.

Keywords:
critical illnessmechanical ventilationneuromuscular blocking agentsedationsedatives

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

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Paradigms for Pharmacological Characterization of C. elegans Synaptic Transmission Mutants
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Paradigms for Pharmacological Characterization of C. elegans Synaptic Transmission Mutants

Published on: August 18, 2008

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:

  • Critical Care Medicine
  • Pharmacology
  • Intensive Care Unit (ICU) Management

Background:

  • Sedation is a cornerstone in managing critically ill patients, particularly those on mechanical ventilation or requiring invasive procedures.
  • Effective sedation and analgesia are crucial for patient comfort and to facilitate medical interventions.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To review current sedation strategies for critically ill patients.
  • To examine the pharmacology of commonly used sedative and neuromuscular blocking agents.
  • To propose a rational approach for utilizing these agents in the ICU.

Main Methods:

  • Literature review focusing on sedation and neuromuscular blockade in critical care.
  • Analysis of the pharmacology of frequently administered sedative and neuromuscular blocking drugs.
  • Development of a strategic framework for agent selection and administration.

Main Results:

  • Sedation is nearly universal in critical care settings.
  • Understanding the pharmacokinetics and pharmacodynamics of agents is key.
  • Neuromuscular blocking agents have specific indications and require careful monitoring.

Conclusions:

  • Optimizing sedation and neuromuscular blockade requires a strategic, evidence-based approach.
  • Rational use of these agents can improve patient outcomes and resource utilization.
  • Further research into novel agents and protocols is warranted.