Anesthetic

<p>An anesthetic  or anaesthetic (<a href="/facts/British_English/ymJR5Rnd">British English</a>; <a href="/facts/American_and_British_English_spelling_differences/YEtRtJrV">see spelling differences</a>) is a <a href="/facts/Drug/FFFUI9n4">drug</a> used to induce <a href="/facts/Anesthesia/b3MKVn8E">anesthesia</a> ⁠— ⁠in other words, to result in a temporary loss of <a href="/facts/Sense/n9kYQ3rf">sensation</a> or <a href="/facts/Awareness/PazhgWFC">awareness</a>. They may be divided into two broad classes: <a href="/facts/General_anesthetic/YNM2tqty">general anesthetics</a>, which result in a reversible loss of <a href="/facts/Consciousness/IAxmgt6c">consciousness</a>, and <a href="/facts/Local_anesthetic/5aA2qews">local anesthetics</a>, which cause a reversible loss of sensation for a limited region of the body without necessarily affecting consciousness.
</p><p>A wide variety of drugs are used in modern anesthetic practice.  Many are rarely used outside <a href="/facts/Anesthesiology/hyfr9hRt">anesthesiology</a>, but others are used commonly in various fields of healthcare. Combinations of anesthetics are sometimes used for their <a href="/facts/Synergy/lfcwWuAc">synergistic</a> and <a href="/facts/Drug_interaction/T5VcSVGd">additive</a> therapeutic effects. Adverse effects, however, may also be increased.  Anesthetics are distinct from <a href="/facts/Analgesics/xLj4XBcq">analgesics</a>, which block only sensation of <a href="/facts/Pain/70E79oUn">painful</a> stimuli. Analgesics are typically used in conjunction with anesthetics to control pre-, intra-, and postoperative pain.
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Anesthetic open-in-new

Anesthetic