Anesthesia Medication Safety

How anesthesia professionals safely prepare and give medications.

Reviewed on March 2, 2026 by Suzanne M. Wright, PhD, CRNA, FAANA, CPPS

CRNA preparing medication for anesthesia in the operating room

Article Summary

Anesthesia medications help keep patients comfortable and safe before, during, and after procedures and surgery. This article explains how anesthesia professionals use safety checks, medication labels, technology, and careful monitoring to help prevent medication errors and protect patients. It also describes how patients can support medication safety by sharing information about their health history, allergies, and current medications with their healthcare team.

Anesthesia professionals, such as Certified Registered Nurse Anesthetists (CRNAs), safely use a wide range of medications to temporarily block pain, sensations, and sometimes awareness during procedures and surgery. There are many different types of anesthesia that can be used. To learn more about the different types of anesthesia, read our Anesthesia Essentials articles.

Before your surgery, your anesthesia professional will meet with you to review your medical history and current health. Your anesthesia professional will ask you about:

Current medications
Vitamin & supplement use
Medical conditions
Substance (drug) use
Allergies
Surgical history
Reactions to anesthesia in the past
Family history of any anesthesia issues

All of this information will be used to create a safe anesthesia plan just for you.

Prescriptions, over-the-counter medications, supplements, and substances can interact with the medications used in anesthesia. It’s important that you give your provider honest, accurate, and up-to-date information. Learn more about Your Surgery Day and What to Know Before Your Procedure.

Before your surgery, you will be asked to identify yourself many times with your name and date of birth. You will also receive a wristband with your name, date of birth, and other identifying information.

Your anesthesia professional will make an anesthesia plan just for you. Before giving you any medications, your anesthesia provider will verify your identity. That way, they’re giving the right medications to the right person.

Your anesthesia professional is going to do many safety checks to make sure that they are giving medications safely and correctly. This means that they are double- and triple-checking that they have the correct medication, the correct dose, they are giving the correct amount, and they are giving the medication in the right way.

These safety checks happen continuously throughout your surgery. Your anesthesia professional will update your medical record with any medications given during surgery and monitor how you respond to them. They will watch you closely and adjust anesthesia dosages to keep you safe. Learn about Safety in the Operating Room.

After your surgery, you will be transferred to a recovery room or a post-anesthesia care unit (PACU). Once there, your anesthesia professional and the recovery room nurses will assess your recovery and give additional medications if needed. Your anesthesia professional and surgeon will let you go home when you are recovered and stable. You will be required to have a responsible adult drive you home after surgery. This is because anesthesia medications can affect your ability to drive safely.

Medications are safe when used properly. There are risks to using any medication, like those used in anesthesia. Your anesthesia professional takes many different steps to help make sure that medications are being used as safely as possible.

Learn about What to Expect when You Wake Up.

Disclaimer: The information on this page is for general educational and informational purposes only and does not constitute medical advice or a recommendation for any specific anesthesia technique, drug, or treatment. Users should consult a qualified medical professional before making any decisions regarding anesthesia care. For complete terms, see our Terms of Use.