Understanding Anesthesiology - The Global Regional Anesthesia ...

Alfentanil
Class
Synthetic opioid analgesic (short-acting); adjunct to anesthesia.
Mechanism of Action
Acts at the mu-and kappa opioid receptors.
Dose
5-50 ug/kg IV, according to physical status, other agents used, nature and duration of surgery.
Onset
1-2 minutes
Duration
20 minutes
Elimination
Hepatic
Effects
CNS
Analgesia, sedation. All of the depressant effects of alfentanil are potentiated by concurrent
use of sedatives, volatile anesthetics and nitrous oxide.
CVS
Bradycardia, hypotension. The synthetic opioids are not direct myocardial depressants but
they do reduce sympathetic drive, which may result in decreased cardiac output in patients
who are relying on sympathetic tone to support their circulation, such as those in hypovolemic
or cardiogenic shock.
Respiratory
Potent respiratory depression which at the extreme, leads to apnea.
GI
Nausea, vomiting, biliary tract spasm.
Misc.
Muscle rigidity, pruritis.
Related Glossary Terms
Analgesia, Apneic threshold, Balanced anesthesia, Fentanyl, Four A’s of anesthesia, Morphine
Sulfate, Naloxone, Opioids, Remifentanil, Sufentanil
Index
Find Term
Chapter 3 - General Anesthesia
Chapter 6 - Drug Finder
Chapter 6 - Opioid agonists and antagonists