Preanesthetic agent

A preanesthetic agent (or preanaesthetic agent) is a drug that is given before the administration of an anesthetic.

Examples

Examples of preanesthetic agents are:

• Acepromazine ^[1]
• atropine ^[1]
• diazepam ^[1]
• Scopolamine

These are the drugs used prior to the administration of an anesthetic agent, with the important object of making anesthesia safe and more agreeable to the patient. The reasons for such medication are

1) For sedation, to reduce anxiety and apprehension 2) To obtain an additive or synergistic effect so that induction could be smooth and rapid 3) To counteract certain adverse effects of the anesthetic drug 4) to relieve from pain

common drugs used are 1) Opioid analgesic : morphine, pethidine and buprenorphine.

See also

• Premedication

References