Sedation Effects

In order to safely provide sedation, the practitioner must have a complete understanding of the range of effects of the medication regimens. While these drugs provide anxiolysis, hypnosis and analgesia, these actions come at a price. Sedatives and analgesics have specific, generally depressive effects on the central nervous control of respiratory drive. Peripherally they act on the control and tone of airway musculature and depress airway reflexes. These actions vary according to class of drug and may act in synergy. This section will review some of the common effects on the airway of most sedation medications. A brief discussion of patients with special airway considerations is also included.