Drug

Effects on System

Halothane

Central Nervous System

• Increased cerebral blood flow.
• Increase in intracranial pressure.
• Fast smooth muscle induction.

Autonomic Nervous System

• Bradycardia

Cardiovascular System

• Depress normal cardiac contractility.
• Decrease BP.
• Decreases atrial mean pressure.
• Sensitized myocardium for arrhythmic effects of catecholamines.

Respiratory System

• Drug of choice if patients has airway problems because it causes no:
• Saliva, bronchial secretions, or cough.

Musculo-skeletal  

• Skeletal muscle effects in stage 3.
• Increases action on non-depolarizing muscle relaxants (competitive antagonist)
• Decreases action on depolarizing muscle relaxant.
• Post-operative shaking that leads to hypoxia due to decrease oxygen flow to the tissue.

Uterus

• Decreases muscle contraction.
• External twisting of baby

Liver

• Hepatotoxicity

Enflurane

Central Nervous System: 

• Fast smooth muscle induction.
• Not for use in epileptic patients because it may result in convulsions.

Cardiovascular System

• No sensitization of myocardium
• Less blood pressure.

Respiratory System

• Causes more respiratory suppression than Halothane.
• Pungency effect makes drug less suitable for induction of anaesthesia in patients with active bronchospasm.

Isoflurane

           Central Nervous System

• Faster induction and recovery phase than Halothane

Cardiovascular System

• Less suppression in blood pressure than Halothane and Enflurane.
• No sensitization of myocardium.

Respiratory System

• Potent supressing effect.
• Strengthens due to potent skeletal muscle relaxing effect.

Desflurane

Central Nervous System

• Faster induction and recovery phase than Isoflurane.
• Increases cerebral blood flow and intracranial pressure.

Cardiovascular System

• Less supressing than Halothane and Enflurane.

Respiratory System

• Strong smell irritates airway if used as an induction drug.
• Causes: Cough, shortness of breath, and laryngospasms.

Sevoflurane

 Same effects than Desflurane.

Respiratory System

• Less irritating to airway than desflurane.

Nitric Oxide

Central Nervous System

• Weak anesthetic effect, potent analgesic, amnesia
• Fast recovery phase

Cardiovascular System

• No effect

Respiratory System

• Can lead to hypoxia thus needs to be used in combo with oxygen.