Drug name | Class | Benefits | Contraindications | Notes | Dose |
Etomidate | Imidazole derivative | Excellent sedation with little hypotension | Known to suppress adrenal cortisol production | Use cautiously if patient has sepsis; initial dose of glucocorticoid may be needed | 0.3 mg/kg |
Ketamine | Phencyclidine derivative, dissociative anesthetic | Stimulates catecholamine release Bronchodilation | Use in patients with elevated ICP or elevated blood pressure is controversial | May be an excellent induction agent for patients with bronchospasm, septic shock, AND hemodynamic compromise | 1 to 2 mg/kg |
Midazolam | Benzodiazepines | Potent dose-related amnesic properties | Dose-related myocardial depression can result in hypotension | Frequently underdosed | 0.2 to 0.3 mg/kg |
Propofol | Alkylphenol derivative | Bronchodilation | No absolute contraindications | 1.5 to 3 mg/kg | |
Dose-related hypotension | |||||
Thiopental sodium | Ultrashort-acting barbiturate | Cerebroprotective and anti-convulsive properties | Potent venodilator and myocardial depressant; can cause hypotension | May not be commercially available. Rarely used. | 3 to 5 mg/kg |
Relatively contraindicated in reactive airway disease due to histamine release | |||||
Acute intermittent and variegate porphyrias |
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