title: Perioperative drug interactions.
abstract: The various classes of IV and inhalation anesthetics all appear to potentiate one another. Many of these interactions are clinically useful in outpatient anesthesia, and many are quite predictable. True synergy is most likely to occur when two drugs produce similar actions by slightly different mechanisms. These principles are particularly well demonstrated by the interactions of hypnotic drugs at the locus ceruleus. It is possible that the reduced anesthetic requirements seen in some disease states may involve similar mechanisms.
authors.affiliation: Department of Anesthesia, Massachusetts General Hospital, Boston 02114.
authors.forename: P
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Michalowski
authors.forename: C E
authors.initials: CE
authors.lastname: Rosow
mesh_terms: D000316:Adrenergic alpha-Agonists; D000771:Anesthesia, Intravenous; D001569:Benzodiazepines; D004347:Drug Interactions; D004357:Drug Synergism; D006801:Humans; D006993:Hypnotics and Sedatives; D009294:Narcotics
chemical_list: D000316:Adrenergic alpha-Agonists; D006993:Hypnotics and Sedatives; D009294:Narcotics; D001569:Benzodiazepines