Pharmacokinetic Considerations for Moderate and Deep Sedation

Moderate and deep sedation can be provided using several routes of drug admin-istration including oral (PO), inhalation, and parental injection. The safety and efficacy of these various techniques is largely dependent on pharmacokinetic principles. This continuing education article will highlight essential principles of absorption, distribution, and elimination of commonly used sedative agents. Key Words: Pharmacokinetics; Drug administration; Sedation. Moderate and deep sedation is frequently requiredtomanage the apprehensive dental patient.Clini-cians and researchers alike continue the search for a ‘‘magic potion,’’operatingwithin the paradigm that an an-swer somehow lies in the selection of a perfect drug or drug combination. Suggestions have included a stagger-ing number of single and multiple drug regimens, as well as alternative routes for their administration, including rectal and intranasal. None have achieved universal acceptance because no single drug or combination i