Pre-anesthetics are drugs given before anesthesia to reduce anxiety, pain, and side effects during surgery.
Pre-anesthetics
- Pre-anesthetics are drugs administered before the induction of anesthesia to improve the quality and safety of anesthesia and surgery.
- They are used to:
- Calm the patient (anxiolysis)
- Reduce pain (preemptive analgesia)
- Decrease secretions
- Prevent reflex responses (bradycardia, salivation)
- Reduce gastric acid/aspiration risk
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Classification of Pre-Anesthetic Drugs:
| Class | Examples | Purpose |
| Sedatives & Anxiolytics | Diazepam, Midazolam | Relieve anxiety, induce amnesia |
| Analgesics | Morphine, Fentanyl | Provide analgesia |
| Anticholinergics | Atropine, Glycopyrrolate | Reduce secretions, prevent bradycardia |
| Antiemetics | Ondansetron, Metoclopramide | Prevent nausea/vomiting |
| H2 Blockers/PPIs | Ranitidine, Pantoprazole | Reduce gastric acidity |
| Antihistamines | Diphenhydramine | Prevent allergic reactions |
| Muscle Relaxants | Vecuronium, Succinylcholine | Facilitate intubation, reduce muscle tone |
Goals of Pre-Anesthetic Medication:
- Anxiolysis & Amnesia – To ease anxiety and eliminate memory of the procedure.
- Analgesia – Prevent intraoperative and postoperative pain.
- Antisecretory Effects – Reduce saliva and bronchial secretions.
- Hemodynamic Stability – Prevent vagal bradycardia and hypotension.
- Prevention of Aspiration – By reducing gastric volume/acidity.
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