Analgesia and anaesthesia
70 drugs
Gabapentinoids
- About this sectionGABA look-alike medicines that bind a calcium channel subunit and quiet overactive nerves. Used for nerve…
- Gabapentinα2δ-1 subunit of voltage-gated calcium channels
- Pregabalinα2δ-1 subunit of voltage-gated calcium channels
Inhaled anaesthetics
- About this sectionGases and volatile liquids breathed in to maintain general anaesthesia. Blood carries them to the brain and…
- DesfluraneSeveral central nervous system ion channels (GABA-A receptors, potassium channels)
- HalothaneSeveral central nervous system ion channels (GABA-A receptors, potassium channels)
- IsofluraneSeveral central nervous system ion channels (GABA-A and glycine receptors, potassium channels)
- Nitrous oxideNMDA glutamate receptor (and two-pore-domain potassium channels)
- SevofluraneSeveral central nervous system ion channels (GABA-A and glycine receptors, potassium channels)
Intravenous anaesthetics
- About this sectionDrugs that, injected into a vein, cause unconsciousness within seconds. They start general anaesthesia and…
- DexmedetomidineAlpha-2A adrenergic receptor
- EtomidateGABA-A receptor (α1β2γ2)
- KetamineNMDA glutamate receptor (GluN1/GluN2)
- MethohexitalGABA-A receptor
- PropofolGABA-A receptor (α1β2γ2)
- ThiopentalGABA-A receptor
Local anesthetics
- About this sectionDrugs that block nerve sodium channels and numb an area without loss of consciousness: stitches, dentistry…
- ArticaineVoltage-gated sodium channels (Nav)
- BenzocaineVoltage-gated sodium channels (Nav)
- BupivacaineVoltage-gated sodium channels (Nav)
- ChloroprocaineVoltage-gated sodium channels (Nav)
- CocaineMonoamine transporters (dopamine and noradrenaline transporters) and sodium channels
- LidocaineVoltage-gated sodium channel (Nav; in the heart, Nav1.5)
- MepivacaineVoltage-gated sodium channels (Nav)
- PrilocaineVoltage-gated sodium channels (Nav)
- ProcaineVoltage-gated sodium channels (Nav)
- RopivacaineVoltage-gated sodium channels (Nav)
- TetracaineVoltage-gated sodium channels (Nav)
Neuromuscular block reversal agents
- About this sectionDrugs that restore muscle strength at the end of surgery after a non-depolarising blocker: sugammadex and…
- SugammadexFree rocuronium and vecuronium in plasma (it does not act on a receptor)
Neuromuscular blockers
- About this sectionThey paralyse skeletal muscle at the motor end plate for intubation and surgery. They neither sedate nor…
- AtracuriumMuscle nicotinic acetylcholine receptor (motor end plate)
- CisatracuriumMuscle nicotinic acetylcholine receptor (motor end plate)
- PancuroniumMuscle nicotinic acetylcholine receptor (motor end plate)
- RocuroniumMuscle nicotinic acetylcholine receptor (motor end plate)
- SuxamethoniumMuscle nicotinic acetylcholine receptor (motor end plate)
- VecuroniumMuscle nicotinic acetylcholine receptor (motor end plate)
Non-opioid analgesic antipyretics
- About this sectionMedicines that ease pain and bring down fever with little or no anti-inflammatory effect, such as…
- MetamizoleActive metabolites that reduce prostaglandin-driven hyperalgesia (mechanism not fully established)
- ParacetamolCyclooxygenases, mainly in the central nervous system (mechanism not fully established)
Nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs)
- About this sectionDrugs that ease pain, fever and inflammation by cutting prostaglandin production. The group includes aspirin…
- Acetylsalicylic acidCyclooxygenase 1 and 2 (COX-1/COX-2)
- CelecoxibCyclooxygenase 2 (COX-2)
- DiclofenacCyclooxygenase 2 (COX-2), also acting on COX-1
- DiflunisalCyclooxygenase 1 and 2 (COX-1/COX-2)
- EtodolacCyclooxygenase 1 and 2 (COX-1/COX-2)
- EtoricoxibCyclooxygenase 2 (COX-2)
- IbuprofenCyclooxygenase 1 and 2 (COX-1/COX-2)
- IndometacinCyclooxygenase 1 and 2 (COX-1/COX-2)
- KetoprofenCyclooxygenase 1 and 2 (COX-1/COX-2)
- KetorolacCyclooxygenase 1 and 2 (COX-1/COX-2)
- Mefenamic acidCyclooxygenase 1 and 2 (COX-1/COX-2)
- MeloxicamCyclooxygenase 2 (COX-2), also acting on COX-1
- NabumetoneCyclooxygenase 1 and 2 (COX-1/COX-2)
- NaproxenCyclooxygenase 1 and 2 (COX-1/COX-2)
- PiroxicamCyclooxygenase 1 and 2 (COX-1/COX-2)
- SulindacCyclooxygenase 1 and 2 (COX-1/COX-2)
Opioids and antagonists
- About this sectionDrugs acting on opioid receptors: agonists relieve severe pain, and antagonists such as naloxone reverse an…
- Buprenorphineμ-opioid receptor (partial agonist; also acts at κ, δ and nociceptin receptors)
- Butorphanolκ (agonist) and μ (partial agonist) opioid receptors
- Codeineμ-opioid receptor (through the morphine it forms)
- Fentanylμ-opioid receptor
- Hydrocodoneμ-opioid receptor
- Hydromorphoneμ-opioid receptor
- Levorphanolμ-opioid receptor
- Methadoneμ-opioid receptor
- Morphineμ-opioid receptor
- Nalbuphineκ (agonist) and μ (antagonist) opioid receptors
- Nalmefeneμ-opioid receptor (antagonist)
- Naloxoneμ-opioid receptor
- Naltrexoneμ-opioid receptor (antagonist)
- Oxycodoneμ-opioid receptor
- Oxymorphoneμ-opioid receptor
- Pentazocineκ (agonist) and μ (partial agonist) opioid receptors
- Pethidineμ-opioid receptor
- Remifentanilμ-opioid receptor
- Sufentanilμ-opioid receptor
- Tapentadolμ-opioid receptor and noradrenaline transporter
- Tramadolμ-opioid receptor (mainly through the metabolite M1) and the serotonin and noradrenaline transporters
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Educational content on how drugs work; not a prescribing guide and no substitute for a health professional's advice. No doses are given.
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