Opioids, Analgesics & Reversal Agents for Anesthesia Technicians

Opioids are commonly used during anesthesia and perioperative care to provide analgesia, but they can also produce sedation, respiratory depression, and other important physiologic effects. Anesthesia technicians and technologists benefit from recognizing commonly encountered opioids and understanding how their effects relate to patient monitoring, airway management, ventilation, and equipment readiness.

This lesson covers fentanyl, morphine, hydromorphone, remifentanil, and naloxone, including opioid analgesia, respiratory depression, interactions with other central nervous system depressants, opioid reversal, controlled-substance safety, medication verification, and the anesthesia technician's role in recognizing changes and supporting the anesthesia team.