adjunct to anesthesia, one of a number of drugs or techniques used to enhance anesthesia but that are not classified as anesthetics. Adjuncts to anesthesia are used before an anesthetic is administered as premedications and during anesthesia to augment anesthetic effects or diminish undesirable side effects. Premedications are given to reduce anxiety, sedate the patient, reduce nausea and vomiting, and reduce oral and respiratory secretions. Opioid analgesics, benzodiazepines, sedatives and hypnotics, phenothiazines, anticholinergics, antihistamines, and antianxiety agents are common adjuncts to anesthesia.
