Drug Function/Purpose

Cisatracurium

Nondepolarizing paralytic for intubation and surgical muscle relaxation. Best for liver or renal failure.

Desflurane

Volatile agent for maintenance of general anesthesia with rapid emergence

Dexmedetomidine

Sedation and analgesic adjunct with minimal respiratory depression

Isoflurane

Volatile agent for maintenance of general anesthesia

Nitrous oxide

Inhaled adjunct for analgesia and light anesthesia/sedation

Propofol

IV induction and maintenance of anesthesia; procedural and ICU sedation

Rocuronium

Nondepolarizing paralytic for intubation and surgical paralysis

Succinylcholine

Rapid-sequence intubation paralytic with very short duration

Ketamine

Induction and dissociative anesthesia; analgesic adjunct; preserves airway reflexes

Etomidate

Hemodynamically stable IV induction agent

Pancuronium

Long-acting paralytic for prolonged surgical or cardiac cases

Vecuronium

Intermediate paralytic for intubation and maintenance of neuromuscular block

Sevoflurane

Volatile agent for mask induction and maintenance

Morphine

Moderate–severe postoperative and intraoperative analgesia

Fentanyl

Potent intraoperative and postoperative opioid analgesic

Sufentanil

Very potent opioid for major and cardiac surgery analgesia

Remifentanil

Ultra–short-acting opioid for tightly titratable intraoperative analgesia

Diazepam

Anxiolysis

Midazolam

Pre-op anxiolysis

Procaine

Local infiltration and regional anesthesia (historical/limited use)

Tetracaine

Spinal and topical anesthesia for eye and mucous membranes

Cocaine

Topical nasal/ENT anesthesia with vasoconstriction

Benzocaine

Topical surface anesthesia of skin and mucosa

EMLA

Topical skin anesthesia before IV starts and minor procedures

Bupivacaine

Long-acting epidural

Lidocaine (local)

Local infiltration

Ropivacaine

Long-acting epidural and peripheral nerve block anesthesia with less cardiotoxicity

Ketorolac (Toradol)

Non-opioid analgesic for short-term moderate postoperative pain

Neostigmine

Reversal of nondepolarizing neuromuscular blockade at end of case

Naloxone

Reversal of opioid-induced respiratory depression or overdose

Flumazenil

Reversal of benzodiazepine sedation or overdose

Physostigmine

Treatment of central anticholinergic toxicity with delirium

Heparin

Anticoagulation for vascular and cardiac procedures and VTE prophylaxis

Protamine

Reversal of unfractionated heparin anticoagulation

Dantrolene

Treatment of malignant hyperthermia and related hypermetabolic crises

Metoprolol

Beta-blockade for hypertension

Atenolol

Beta-blockade for chronic hypertension and perioperative rate control

Propranolol

Beta-blockade for tachyarrhythmias

Carvedilol

Beta- and alpha-blocker for heart failure and hypertension

Bisoprolol

Beta-1 selective blocker for heart failure and hypertension

Nadolol

Long-acting nonselective beta-blocker for hypertension and angina

Nebivolol

Beta-1 blocker with vasodilation for hypertension

Labetalol

Mixed alpha/beta blocker for acute perioperative hypertension

Acebutolol

Beta-1 blocker with partial agonist activity for hypertension and arrhythmias

Timolol

Beta-blocker used for glaucoma and sometimes systemic hypertension

Sotalol

Beta-blocker and class III antiarrhythmic for atrial and ventricular arrhythmias

Nitroglycerin

Venodilator for myocardial ischemia and perioperative blood pressure control

Nitroprusside

Potent arterial and venous vasodilator for hypertensive emergencies

Losartan

ARB for chronic hypertension and renal protection

Hydralazine

Arterial vasodilator for longer-acting IV or oral blood pressure control

Benazepril

ACE inhibitor for chronic hypertension and heart failure

Lisinopril

ACE inhibitor for hypertension

Diltiazem (Cardizem)

Rate control of SVT/AF and treatment of hypertension/angina

Phenylephrine

Alpha-agonist vasopressor for anesthesia-induced hypotension

Epinephrine

Mixed alpha/beta agonist for arrest

Dopamine

Inotrope/vasopressor for selected shock states and low cardiac output

Norepinephrine

First-line vasopressor for septic and vasodilatory shock

Vasopressin

Adjunct vasopressor for refractory vasodilatory shock

Ephedrine

Bolus agent for mild-to-moderate hypotension in anesthesia

Amiodarone

Treatment of refractory VT/VF and atrial/ventricular tachyarrhythmias

Adenosine

Rapid termination of AV-node–dependent supraventricular tachycardia

Albuterol

Rescue bronchodilator for intraoperative and postoperative bronchospasm

Furosemide (Lasix)

Loop diuretic for fluid overload and pulmonary edema

Mannitol

Osmotic diuretic to reduce intracranial or intraocular pressure

Cimetidine

H2 blocker to reduce gastric acid and aspiration risk

Bicitra (sodium citrate–citric acid)

Oral antacid to raise gastric pH before induction

Metoclopramide (Reglan)

Prokinetic antiemetic to reduce nausea and speed gastric emptying

Hydrocortisone

Stress-dose steroid and treatment of adrenal insufficiency

Dexamethasone

Antiemetic adjunct and anti-inflammatory perioperative steroid

Magnesium sulfate

Seizure prophylaxis and treatment in severe preeclampsia/eclampsia

Oxytocin (Pitocin)

Increase uterine tone and treat postpartum hemorrhage

Methylergonovine (Methergine)

Uterotonic for refractory uterine atony and postpartum hemorrhage

Normal saline (0.9% NaCl)

Isotonic crystalloid for maintenance and volume resuscitation

Lactated Ringer's

Balanced crystalloid for routine OR fluid and resuscitation

Plasma-Lyte

Balanced crystalloid alternative to LR for large-volume resuscitation

D5W (5% dextrose in water)

Free water replacement and drug carrier; not for resuscitation

D5 0.45% NaCl

Maintenance fluid providing sodium and dextrose

D5 0.9% NaCl

Isotonic maintenance fluid with dextrose for higher needs

Albumin 5%

Colloid for intravascular volume expansion in hypoalbuminemia or major shifts

Albumin 25%

Concentrated colloid for small-volume volume expansion

Hydroxyethyl starch (HES)

Synthetic colloid for volume expansion (now limited use)

Packed red blood cells (PRBCs)

Increase oxygen-carrying capacity in anemia or blood loss

Fresh frozen plasma (FFP)

Replace multiple coagulation factors in coagulopathy

Platelets

Treat thrombocytopenia or platelet dysfunction with bleeding or procedures

Cryoprecipitate

Replace fibrinogen and specific factors in low-fibrinogen states

Whole blood

Simultaneous replacement of RBCs

Sugammadex

Selective reversal of rocuronium and vecuronium neuromuscular block

Hydromorphone (Dilaudid)

Strong opioid for postoperative analgesia

Ondansetron (Zofran)

First-line 5-HT3 antagonist for PONV prophylaxis and treatment

Droperidol

Dopamine-antagonist antiemetic for high-risk or refractory PONV

Scopolamine

Anticholinergic patch for prevention of motion sickness and PONV

Tranexamic acid (TXA)

Antifibrinolytic to reduce surgical bleeding and transfusion needs

Acetaminophen (Tylenol/Ofirmev)

Non-opioid analgesic and antipyretic for multimodal pain control

Cefazolin (Ancef)

Perioperative prophylactic antibiotic for surgical site infection prevention

Glycopyrrolate

Anticholinergic used with neostigmine and to reduce secretions/bradycardia

Atropine

Anticholinergic for symptomatic bradycardia and some pediatric emergencies

Thiopental (Pentothal)

Barbiturate IV induction agent (more historical but exam-relevant)

Oxygen

Carrier gas and essential component of all anesthetics; treats hypoxemia