This session describes the main barbiturate drugs used in anaesthesia: thiopental, methohexital and phenobarbital, including their pharmacology, clinical effects and uses.
This session covers the induction agent etomidate. Etomidate (in clinical use since 1972) has a very stable haemodynamic profile. However, due to the inhibition of adrenocortical steroid synthesis after a single dose or infusion, the popularity of etomida
This session will provide an understanding of the properties that make up the ideal intravenous induction agent whilst also listing how the currently available agents meet these ideals. Reference will be made to historical agents where they illustrate imp
This session examines the local anaesthetics used in clinical practice including their structure, mechanism of action, safe doses and the potential side-effects.
This session provides an overview of simple analgesia. It explains the pharmacokinetic and pharmacodynamic properties of paracetamol and aspirin. It will describe mechanisms of action and highlight clinical considerations for safe use of these drugs.
This session will provide a brief overview of the history of NSAIDs, their chemistry, and a profile of their uses. Their side-effects, mechanism of action and interaction with different isoforms of cyclo-oxygenase will also be discussed.
This session is an introduction to opioid drugs. It describes the classification of different opioid receptors, their common mechanisms of action and their location. Their clinical effects, physiochemical properties and unwanted effects are also introduce
This session considers the pharmacology of morphine and other opioids. It covers analgesic efficacy and side effects, pharmacokinetics (which takes in bioavailability, lipid solubility and half-life) and inter-individual variability in pharmacodynamics an
This session describes the pharmacology and uses of weak opioids such as codeine, as well as partial agonist and mixed agonist/antagonist drugs, and lists the problems associated with their use. It also examines the pharmacology and use of μ receptor a
