Reversal agents for anesthesia

Reversal agents are medications that are given to counteract, or reverse, the effects of medications used for anesthesia. They are often used to help reduce the time it takes to recover from anesthesia. Some examples of reversal agents include:

• Flumazenil (Romazicon), a reversal agent for benzodiazepine anesthetics that are given in a vein (intravenously, IV), such as Versed that causes sedation, sleepiness (hypnosis), forgetfulness (amnesia), and unconsciousness.
• Naloxone (Narcan), which counteracts the effects of intravenous opiates (narcotics) that are used to relieve pain (analgesia). Naloxone must be used with care when an opiate is given for pain, because significant pain may be present when the effects of the opiate are reversed.
• Other reversal agents, such as edrophonium, neostigmine, or pyridostigmine, which are used to counteract the effects of certain types of muscle relaxants.

Author:	Caroline Rea, RN, BS, MS	Last Updated: February 4, 2008
Medical Review:	E. Gregory Thompson, MD - Internal Medicine John M. Freedman, MD - Anesthesiology
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