Anesthesia Pharmacology

3 Credits · Level: Graduate

The focus of this course is on drugs used in clinical anesthesia practice. Major content will include the pharmacokinetics and pharmacodynamics of general anesthetic agents, analgesics, opioids, muscle relaxants, local anesthetics and adjunctive agents used in anesthesia. Emphasis is on uptake, distribution, metabolism, excretion and elimination of anesthetics. Drug dosage, side effects, and usual effects of anesthetic agents on various body systems will also be presented. The course incorporates gas laws and principles of flow in delivering inhalation anesthetic agents. Pharmacogenomics, and the importance of cultural context will be emphasized when considering the use of various pharmacologic therapies in the treatment of individual patients.