Anesthetic Agents and Adjuncts: Preanesthetics Flashcards
Not a true anesthetic but used for other desirable effects such as sedation, tranquilization, analgesia, and anticholinergics
Anesthetic adjunct
Bind to and stimulates receptors
Pure agonist
Bind to receptors but do not stimulate them (reversal agents)
Blockers
Pure antagonists
Bind to and partially stimulate receptors
Partial agonists
Bind to more than one receptor type and simultaneously stimulate at least one, and block at least one
Agonists/Antagonists
These must be administered as adjuncts
analgesics
These type of drugs can’t be administered in the same syringe
Incompatible drugs
Drugs that are safely mixed together in the same syringe
Combination drugs
Often combined with ketamine in a 50:50 mixture
Valium (diazepam)
A term that describes the period immediately preceding the induction of anesthesia
Preanesthesia
The process by which an animal leaves the normal conscious state and enters an unconscious state
Induction
“Heart protectants”
Anticholinergics
Cause calming and sleep effects
Tranquilizers and Sedatives
AKA narcotics
Cause analgesic effects
Opioids
When should preanesthesia drugs be given?
15-20 minutes prior to induction
Controversial as pre-meds but help combat adverse side effects
Anticholinergics
AKA parasympatholytics
Block the binding of acetylcholine to prevent bradycardia, salivation, peristalsis, and pupil constriction
Works on the vagus nerve
Can be reversed with physotimine or pilocarpine
Causes bronchodilation
Anticholinergics
2 anticholinergics used in preanesthesia
Atropine and glycopyrrolate
An older drug derived from the nightshade plant
Short duration of action, but fast onset (used for emergencies)
Treats organophosphate toxicity
Increases the firing of the SA node
Can cross the placental barrier, but carrier of other substances
Atropine
A newer synthetic drug approved for dogs and cats
Slow onset, long duration
Minimally crosses the placental barrier
Less tendency to cause tachycardia
Glycopyrrolate
These drugs can cause ataxia, prolapse of the third eyelid, respiratory distress, and unusual behaviors
Tranquilizers and Sedatives
3 classes of sedatives/tranquilizers
- Phenothiazines
- Benzodiazepines
- Alpha 2 agonists
These sedatives are NON CONTROLLED substances that suppress the sympathetic nervous system
May cause hypothermia
SHOULD NOT BE GIVEN TO SEIZURE PTS
EX: Acepromazine
Phenothiazines
Bright yellow in color
Shouldn’t be used in stallions, epileptics, boxers, liver failure pts, and hypotensive pts
Acepromazine
These are minor tranquilizers with a wide safety margin, mostly used as muscle relaxers (not reliable sedatives)
Cardiovascularly friendly drugs
Benzodiazepines
Drug used to reverse benzodiazepines
flumazenil
4 benzodiazepines
- diazepam
- zolazepam
- midazolam
- lorazepam
Diazepam is AKA
valium
only licensed benzodiazepine licensed for animals
zolazepam
This drug is the drug of choice for seizure and cardiovascular pts, is cardiovascularly friendly, compatible with ketamine
Controlled and given IV
Diazepam
This drug is used as an appetite stimulant in ruminants and cats
Can be given in multiple routes
Midazolam
These drugs are highly reversible and should be given in young, healthy pts ONLY
Act as sedatives/tranquilizers and has slight analgesic effects
Alpha 2 agonists
First widely used alpha 2 agonist
Can be combined with other pain meds as a better sedative/analgesic
Can be reversed with Yohimbine
Xylazine
Xylazine is AKA
Rompun, Anased
Dosing is based on body surface area
Most commonly used A2A in dogs and cats
Mostly used in horses
Reversed with atipamazole
Dexmedetomidine
Dexmedetomidine is AKA
metetomedine
Analgesic used in horses for colic pain
Detomidine