Anesthesia

Anesthesia is a medical method used to prevent pain and reduce discomfort during surgeries, dental work, scans, wound care, and other procedures. Depending on the procedure, anesthesia can numb a small area, a larger part of the body, or help a patient sleep through the procedure safely.

Anesthesia medicines work by blocking pain signals from nerves to the brain and, in some cases, by helping the brain relax or sleep. These medicines are selected based on factors such as procedure type, age, weight, medical history, and overall health.

Types of anesthesia

Local anesthesia

Numb a small area of the body. Commonly used for stitches, minor skin procedures, and dental work.

Regional anesthesia

Numb a larger area (like an arm, leg, or lower body). Examples include spinal or epidural anesthesia, often used in surgeries and childbirth.

General anesthesia

Makes a person fully unconscious during major surgery. Breathing, blood pressure, and other vital signs are closely monitored by medical professionals.

Sedation

Helps a person feel calm, sleepy, and relaxed during certain procedures. It can be mild to deep depending on the need.

What you may find in the Anesthesia category

Products in an anesthesia-related category can include:

Local numbing medicines

Used to numb skin or tissues during minor procedures. They may come as creams, gels, sprays, or injections.

Procedure sedation medicines

Used in hospitals/clinics to reduce anxiety and discomfort during procedures.

Medicines used during surgery

These can include agents used to maintain anesthesia, relax muscles, or support safe procedure care.

Supportive peri-procedure medicines

Such as medicines used to help with nausea, pain control after procedures, or recovery support (as part of surgical care).

Why safety is important

Anesthesia medicines can strongly affect the brain, breathing, heart rate, and blood pressure. For this reason, most anesthetic drugs are intended for use by trained medical professionals in a controlled setting with monitoring. Using the wrong medicine or dose can be dangerous.

When to seek medical help quickly

Get urgent medical attention if someone has signs like:

• Trouble breathing, severe drowsiness, or fainting
• Severe allergic reaction (swelling of face/lips, rash with breathing difficulty)
• Chest pain, very fast or very slow heartbeat
• Confusion that is sudden or getting worse

Explore Anesthesia products

This category is meant for medicines and supportive items related to numbing, sedation, and procedure comfort, selected based on professional medical planning and patient safety.