A wide variety of drugs are used in modern anaesthetic practice. Many are rarely used outside of anaesthesia, although others are used commonly by all disciplines. Some of the prominent ones include:

• local anesthetics
• general anaesthetics
  • inhalation anaesthetics
    • volatile anaesthetics
      • desflurane
      • sevoflurane
      • isoflurane
      • halothane
      • enflurane
      • methoxyflurane
    • nitrous oxide
    • xenon
  • intravenous anaesthetics
    • propofol
    • etomidate
    • barbiturates
      • methohexital
      • thiopentone/thiopental
    • benzodiazepines
      • midazolam
      • diazepam
    • ketamine
• analgesics
  • opioids
    • morphine
    • fentanyl and its derivatives
  • NSAIDs
• muscle relaxants
  • depolarising muscle relaxants
    • succinylcholine, also known as suxamethonium
  • nondepolarising (curare-like) muscle relaxants
    • atracurium
    • cisatracurium
    • vecuronium
    • rocuronium
    • mivacurium
    • turbocuranine
    • pancuronium bromide
• vasoconstrictors, also known as vasopressors
  • phenylephrine
  • ephedrine
  • metaraminol
• antiemetics