Analgesic and sedative agents used in the intensive care unit: A review. Issue 11 (4th August 2018)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Panahi, Yunes; Dehcheshmeh, Hamid Sadeghi; Mojtahedzadeh, Mojtaba; Joneidi‐Jafari, Nosratollah; Johnston, Thomas P.; Sahebkar, Amirhossein
• Is Part Of: Journal of cellular biochemistry. Volume 119:Issue 11(2018)
• Page Start: 8684
• Page End: 8693
• Publication Date: 2018-08-04
• Subjects: analgesic -- critically ill patient -- intensive care unit (ICU) -- sedative; Cytochemistry -- Periodicals; 572
• DOI: 10.1002/jcb.27141
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 0730-2312

Abstract

Abstract: Pain is a common experience for most patients in the intensive care unit (ICU). In the current study, the advantages and disadvantages of analgesic and sedative drugs used in the ICU are reviewed. An ideal sedative and analgesic agent should have features such as rapid onset of action, rapid recovery after discontinuation, predictability, minimal accumulation of the agent and metabolites in the body, and lack of toxicity. None of the sedative and analgesic agents have all of these desired characteristics; nevertheless, clinicians must be familiar with these classes of drugs to optimize pharmacotherapy and ensure as few side‐effects as possible for ICU patients. Abstract : This review discusses the advantages and disadvantages of a number of medications currently used in ICU patients to treat pain and provide sedation. Depending on the intensity of the physical symptoms associated with the patient s disease or condition, clinicians can, and should, prescribe the best medicines with the least number of side effects to lessen or ease the suffering of their patients in the ICU.