Anaesthetic Drugs

Question 1

What class of drug is Parecoxib?

What is it used for?

Answer 1

A selective COX2 inhibitor

Used for management of acute post operative pain

Question 2

What Benzodiazepine is most commonly used for sedation?

Answer 2

Midazolam

Question 3

What is Remifentanil?

Why is it short acting?

Answer 3

A short acting synthetic opioid.

It is rapidly metabolised (due to hydrolysis of an Easter linkage)

Question 4

What anaesthetic use does Clonidine have?

What other uses does it have?

Answer 4

It is an a2 agonist used for controlled hypotension, as an antiemetic and for mild sedation.

It can also be used for opioid and alcohol withdrawal and in ADHD treatment

Question 5

What is Neostigmine and what is it used for?

Answer 5

It is an acetylcholinesterase inhibitor used to prolong the action of acetylcholine and is used to reverse non-depolarising muscle paralysis.

(It is also used to treat myasthenia gravis)

Question 6

What class of drug is atropine?

Why is it given in anaesthesia?

Name another drug of this class used in anaesthesia

Answer 6

Antimuscarinic/Anticholinergic

To reduce secretions, treat bradycardia

Glycopyrrolate

Question 7

What drug can be used to reverse the effects of opioids?

Answer 7

Naloxone

Question 8

What is the mechanism of action of Flumazenil?

What is it used for?

Answer 8

It is a selective GABA antagonist.

It is used to reverse the action of Benzodiazepines.

Question 9

Why is adrenaline used with local anaesthetics?

Answer 9

For vasoconstriction to reduce bleeding and increase the dose of local anaesthetic that can be used by reducing absorption into local tissues.

Question 10

What is adrenaline used for in critical care?

What is an adverse effect?

Answer 10

To manage a haemodynamically unstable patient. It causes peripheral vasoconstriction to increase blood pressure.

Peripheral tissues can be inadequately perfused, in some cases necrotic tissue requires amputation.

Question 11

List some common side effects of Proprofol

Answer 11

Arrhythmia
Hypotension
Burning sensation at injection site
Apnea

Question 12

What drug class is Tranexamic acid?

What is it used for?

Answer 12

It is an antifibrinolytic.

It is used to prevent and treat blood loss in surgery and major trauma.

Question 13

What is dexamethasone used for in anaesthesia?

Name another drug used for this purpose.

Answer 13

As an antiemetic.

Ondansetron.

Question 14

What is the mechanism of action of Ondansetron?

Answer 14

It is a 5HT3 antagonist

Question 15

Name a common local anaesthetic.

What is the mechanism of action?

Answer 15

Lidocaine. Bupivicaine.

Na+ channel blocker.

Question 16

What short term muscle paralytic agent is used for endotracheal intubation?

What is it’s mechanism of action?

Name another paralytic used in anaesthesia.

Answer 16

Suxamethonium

It is a ACh receptor antagonist.

Atracurium

Question 17

What is the mechanism of action of muscle paralytics?

Answer 17

Competitively block ACh receptors to prevent depolarisation of the neuromuscular junction.

Question 18

Name drugs that could be prescribed for VTE prophylaxis.

What drug class are they?

Answer 18

Dalteparin, enoxaparin.

Low molecular weight heparin.

Question 19

Name a drug used to control seizures in critical care.

Answer 19

Keppra (Levatiracetam)

Question 20

What drug is used to treat patients with suspected aspiration?

Answer 20

Augmentin/Co-Amoxiclav

Question 21

What is aminophylline used for in critical care and what is it’s mechanism of action?

Answer 21

It is used to treat breathing difficulties. It is a bronchodilator, working as an adenosine receptor antagonist, raising tissue cAMP concentrations.

Question 22

What is the most common volatile anaesthetic agent?

Answer 22

Sevoflurane