Abstract
This article introduces the pharmacology of the intravenous induction agents (IAA) in current use. The properties of the ideal IAA are listed and the basic pharmacokinetics during the induction and recovery of a bolus dose of IAA are discussed. Diagrams showing the distribution and elimination of the IAA complement the text. The barbiturates as a group are explored with particular emphasis on the thio-barbiturate, thiopental, which is retained as the gold standard for comparison purposes. The other IAAs covered are the sterically hindered alkyl phenol, propofol, the carboxylated imidazole, etomidate and the phencyclidine derivative, ketamine. Each agent is described giving its physical properties and notes about its use. The pharmacodynamics of IAAs are covered comparing and contrasting the action of the drugs on the various systems of the body. The safety of the IAAs is recorded. A table shows some of the pharmacological properties of the four drugs to enable the reader to compare them.
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