Anesthetics, General : Before Using

Anesthetics, General - Systemic

Anesthetics, General *** Before Using *** How to Use *** Fore Safe Use *** Side Effects *** Additional Information

Before Using This Medication

In deciding to using a medication, the chance of taking the drug must be weighed against the good it will do. This is a decision you will make. For general anesthetics, the following must be considered

Allergic reaction

Tell your family doctor if you have any unusual or allergy to barbiturates or general anesthetics. Also tell your health care professional if you are allergic to any other substances, such as foods, preservatives, or dyes.

Pregnancy care

For barbiturate anesthetics - methohexital and thiopental Methohexital has not been studied in pregnant women. However, it has not been shown to cause birth defects or other problems in animal studies. Studies on effects in pregnancy with thiopental have not been done in either humans or pets. However, use of barbiturate anesthetics during pregnancy may effect the nervous system in the fetus.
For etomidate Etomidate has not been studied in pregnant women. Although studies in pets have not shown etomidate to cause birth defects, it has been shown to cause other unwanted effects in the animal fetus when given in doses usually many times the human dose.
For inhalation anesthetics - enflurane, halothane, isoflurane, methoxyflurane and nitrous oxide Enflurane, halothane, isoflurane, methoxyflurane and nitrous oxide have not been studied in pregnant women. However, studies in pets have shown that inhalation anesthetics may cause birth defects or other harm to the fetus.
When using as an anesthetic for an abortion, enflurane, halothane, or isoflurane may cause increased bleeding.
When using in small doses to relieve pain during labor and delivery, halothane may slow delivery and increase bleeding in the mother after the baby is born. These effects do not occur with small doses of enflurane, isoflurane, or methoxyflurane. However, they may occur with large doses of these anesthetics.
For ketamine Ketamine has not been studied in pregnant women. Studies in pets have not shown that ketamine causes birth defects, but it has causing damage to certain tissues when given in large amounts for a long period of time.
For propofol Propofol has not been studied in pregnant women. Although studies in pets have not shown propofol to cause birth defects, it has been shown to cause deaths in nursing mothers and their offspring when given in doses usually many times the human dose.

General anesthetics may cause unwanted effects, such as drowsiness, in the newborn baby if large amounts are given to the mother during labor and delivery.

Breast-feeding problem

Barbiturate anesthetics - methohexital and thiopental, halothane and propofol pass into the breast milk. However, general anesthetics have not been reported to cause problems in nursing babies.

Use for Children

Anesthetics given by inhalation and ketamine have been tested in child and have not been shown to cause various side effects or problems in child than they do in adults.

Although there is no special info comparing use of etomidate in children with use in other age groups, this drug is not expected to cause various side effects or problems in child than it does in adults.

Although there is no special info comparing use of thiopental aplaying intravenously in child with use in other age groups, using thiopental intravenously in child is not expected to cause various side effects or problems in children than it does in adults.

Propofol has been tested in child to produce loss of consciousness before and during surgery. It has not been shown to cause various side effects or problems in child than it does in adults. Propofol must not be using in critically ill children to help the children withstand the stress of being in the intensive care unit. Some critically ill children have developed problems with their body chemistries after receiving propofol and a few children have died as a result of this. It is not known if propofol or the severe illnesses of the children causing this problem.

Elderly care

Elderly people are especially sensitive to the effects of the barbiturate anesthetics - methohexital and thiopental, etomidate, propofol, and anesthetics given by inhalation. This may increase the risk of side effects.

Ketamine has not been shown to cause various side effects or problems in elderly people than it does in adults people.

Drug interactions

Although certain medication must not be using together at all, in other cases two various medication may be using together even if an interaction might occur. In these cases, your family doctor may want to change the dose, or other precautions may be necessary. When you are receiving general anesthetics, it is especially important that your health care professional know if you are taking any other drug , including any of the following:

“Street” drugs, such as amphetamines - “uppers”, barbiturates - “downers”, cocaine, marijuana, phencyclidine - PCP or “angel dust” and heroin or other narcotics Serious, possibly fatal, side effects may occur if your family doctor or dentist gives you an anesthetic without knowing that you have taken another drug

Other Information for using

The presence of other medical problems may effect the use of general anesthetics. Make sure you tell your family doctor if you have any other medical problems, especially:

Malignant hyperthermia, during or shortly after receiving an anesthetic - history of, or family history of. Signs of malignant hyperthermia include very high fever, fast and irregular heartbeat, muscle spasms or tightness, and breathing problems This side effect may occur again