Reversal agents for anesthesia

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Reversal agents for anesthesia

Reversal agents are medications that are given to counteract, or reverse, the effects of medications used for anesthesia. They are often used to help reduce the time it takes to recover from anesthesia. Some examples of reversal agents include:

Flumazenil (Romazicon), a reversal agent for benzodiazepine anesthetics that are given in a vein (intravenously, IV), such as Versed that causes sedation, sleepiness (hypnosis), forgetfulness (amnesia), and unconsciousness.
Naloxone (Narcan), which counteracts the effects of intravenous opiates (narcotics) that are used to relieve pain (analgesia). Naloxone must be used with care when an opiate is given for pain, because significant pain may be present when the effects of the opiate are reversed.
Other reversal agents, such as edrophonium, neostigmine, or pyridostigmine, which are used to counteract the effects of certain types of muscle relaxants.

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Author	Caroline Rea, RN, BS, MS
Editor	Maria G. Essig, MS, ELS
Associate Editor	Pat Truman, MATC
Primary Medical Reviewer	E. Gregory Thompson, MD - Internal Medicine
Specialist Medical Reviewer	John M. Freedman, MD - Anesthesiology
Last Updated	February 4, 2008

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Last updated:	February 04, 2008
Author:	Caroline Rea, RN, BS, MS
Reviewed By:	E. Gregory Thompson, MD - Internal Medicine, John M. Freedman, MD - Anesthesiology
Editors:	Maria G. Essig, MS, ELS, Pat Truman, MATC

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