FirstHope 
Methohexital Sodium, a barbiturate, enhances GABA action causing rapid sedation with short duration. It is used for anesthesia induction and short surgical or diagnostic procedures. Chemical Formula: C₁₄H₁₇N₂NaO₃ Mechanism of Action: Potentiates GABA-A receptors Increases Cl⁻ influx → CNS depression Rapid onset due to high lipid solubility Uses of Methohexital Sodium: Induction of anesthesia Brief … Read more
Sevoflurane acts on CNS by enhancing GABA activity, providing smooth onset and quick recovery. It is an inhalation anesthetic used for rapid induction and maintenance of general anesthesia. Chemical Formula: C₄H₃F₇O Mechanism of Sevoflurane: Potentiates GABA-A and glycine receptors Fast onset due to low blood/gas solubility Uses of Sevoflurane: Induction in children (non-pungent) Maintenance Side … Read more
Elements of Symmetry are geometric features like planes, axes, or centers that describe balance and repetition in a molecule’s structure. An element of symmetry is a feature (like a plane, point, or axis) that describes how a molecule can be transformed into an indistinguishable configuration. A molecule is achiral if it has any element of … Read more
Diastereomerism is a type of stereoisomerism where molecules have the same molecular formula but are not mirror images of each other. Unlike enantiomers, diastereomers differ in physical and chemical properties such as melting point, solubility, and reactivity. This distinction makes diastereomerism important in drug design, as different diastereomers of the same compound may show varied … Read more
Definition of Meso Compounds: A meso compound is a special type of stereoisomer that contains multiple chiral centers but is nevertheless achiral as a whole. In other words, it has chiral centers, but due to an internal plane of symmetry (or another element of symmetry), the molecule is superimposable on its own mirror image. Identifying … Read more
Definition of the Enantiomers: Enantiomers are non-superimposable mirror images of each other. They have the same molecular formula and connectivity but differ in the spatial arrangement of groups around chiral centers. Key characteristics: Same physical properties (boiling point, melting point, solubility, etc.) Same chemical properties in achiral environments. Opposite optical rotation: One is dextrorotatory (+), … Read more
Optical Isomerism is a type of stereoisomerism where compounds differ in how they rotate plane-polarized light due to chiral centers. Definition of Optical Isomerism: Optical isomerism occurs when molecules can exist in two (or more) non-superimposable forms (stereoisomers) that differ in the way they interact with plane-polarized light. If a molecule can rotate the plane … Read more
Stereoisomerism is a form of isomerism in which molecules have: The same molecular formula The same sequence of bonded atoms (i.e., the same structural formula) But a different spatial arrangement of atoms or groups in 3D space So, unlike structural (constitutional) isomers, stereoisomers differ only in how atoms are oriented in space, not in how … Read more
Isoflurane enhances GABA activity, causing CNS depression with rapid onset and smooth recovery. It is an inhalation anesthetic used for induction and maintenance of general anesthesia. Chemical Formula: C₃H₂ClF₅O Mechanism of Isoflurane: GABA-A receptor potentiation Inhibits NMDA receptors, 2-pore domain K+ channels Uses of Isoflurane: Maintenance of anesthesia Side Effects: Airway irritation (not ideal for … Read more
Enflurane enhances GABA activity, producing CNS depression with muscle relaxation and analgesia. It is an inhalation anesthetic used for induction and maintenance of general anesthesia. Chemical Formula: C₃H₂ClF₅O Mechanism of Enflurane : Enhances GABA-A activity Inhibits excitatory neurotransmission Uses of Enflurane: Maintenance of anesthesia (replaced by safer agents) Side Effects: CNS excitation → seizure-like EEG … Read more
