Pharmacology

57 episodes

EduCastPharmacologyPodcast

AntiCholinesterases For The Anaesthetically Adept

Introduction Anticholinesterases. You think you know what you’re getting into: neostigmine, reversal, done. Then you realise it can go considerably further than that. Nerve agents. Myasthenia gravis. Alzheimer’s disease + classification based on where exactly a drug binds to an enzyme th

19 Apr 2026

EduCastPharmacologyPodcast

Sugammadex For Anaesthetists

Introduction Sugammadex changed the game for neuromuscular blockade reversal. Before it came along, your only option for reversing a non-depolarising block was neostigmine, which meant waiting until the block was shallow enough, co-administering glycopyrrolate or atropine to manage the cholinergic s

1 Apr 2026

EduCastPharmacologyPodcast

Pancuronium For Anaesthetists

Introduction Pancuronium bromide is the original aminosteroid neuromuscular blocking agent arriving in clinical practice in the late 1960s and paved the way for every aminosteroid that followed. While it has been superseded by rocuronium and vecuronium in modern anaesthetic practice, understanding p

22 Mar 2026

EduCastPharmacologyPodcast

Vecuronium For Anaesthetists

Introduction Vecuronium Pharmacology Vecuronium Physico-Chemical properties Name Vecuronium (Brand name Norcuron) Class A mono-quartenary aminosteroid Chemical Make Up The mono-quaternary analogue of pancuronium History Synthesised by Savage and Coaworks at the Organon research laboratories, in the

26 Feb 2026

EduCastPharmacologyPodcast

Cisatracurium For Anaesthetists

Introduction Cisatracurium is one of the ten isomers found in Atracurium, and it has been selected out as a useful, potent, predictably degrading drug with a very stable side effect profile! Althought, it might be that, whilst Cisatracurium probably sounded like a great idea at the time… it wa

18 Feb 2026

EduCastPharmacologyPodcast

Mivacurium For Anaesthetists

Introduction Mivacurium is a non-depolarising neuromuscular blocking agent of the bis-benzylisoquinolinium class, with a unique metabolism by plasma cholinesterase considering it is a non-depolarising muscle relaxant. Developed to provide more stable cardiovascular side effect profiles than its

1 Feb 2026

EduCastPharmacologyPodcast

Oxygen for the FRCA Primary

Introduction Oxygen seems like yet another boring topic, we are asked to prescribe it in hospital and to treat it like a drug. Whilst my obstinate mind worries that I am currently breathing an unprescribed drug – and whether self referral to the police is in my best interests. Getting it wrong

22 Jan 2026

EduCastPharmacologyPodcast

Nitrous Oxide for the FRCA Primary

Introduction Nitrous Oxide, once a corner stone of ‘passing the gas’ has been progressively displaced by better agents, think sevoflurane with less PONV, remifentanil for rapid titratable pain relief and even desflurane for its speedier offset. It still finds utility on the back of an am

9 Jan 2026

EduCastPharmacologyPodcast

Ether, Enflurane and Explosions “barely for the FRCA”

Ether (or perhaps Aether) was first distilled around 1540! by Valerius Cordus, with some jiggery pokery involving gourds, wine, sulphuric acid and some clever distillation. Enflurane, devised in 1963 subsequently superseded by better agents (as was Ether….) Explosions, seemingly as old as time

29 Dec 2025

EduCastPharmacologyPodcast

Desflurane for the FRCA and Vapourisers

I’ve checked the house, there are no polar bears so we should be fine to talk about this drug. I jest, but its global warming potential seems fairly tremendous and there really isn’t a super robust justification for its use in the eyes of most UK anaesthetists. The NHS has gone so far in

11 Dec 2025

EduCastPharmacologyPodcast

Halothane For The 1963 Diploma in Anaesthesia

With the advent of halothane, smoking, static and other sizzling was back in style! Gone were the explosive diethyl ether, acetylene, trichloroethylene and cyclopropane anaesthetics of the 1950’s and with it a new era of fewer explosions, and possibly a greater prevalence of post operative liv

27 Nov 2025

EduCastPharmacology

Hypnotica Chapter for the FRCA Primary

Hypnotic Drugs, cornerstone of anaesthesia. Herein lies a unifying page gathering up all the GasGasGas episodes on hypnotic drugs for the FRCA exam, these are commonly used in the UK. Including ketamine, propofol, thiopentone, and etomidate as well as soporific adjunctive agents, midazolam, dexmedet

17 Nov 2025

EduCastPharmacologyPodcast

Ep.46 – Sevoflurane For The FRCA Primary

Having a solid understanding of Sevoflurane is, as you might expect, quite important for the FRCA primary and your career. as it is likely the most commonly used volatile anaesthetic agent, in the UK. It might find itself adjacent to a Desflurane or Isoflurane vaporiser, and compared to these a few

12 Nov 2025

EduCastPharmacologyPodcast

Ep.45 – Isoflurane For The FRCA Primary

Introduction to the Episode This episode handles everything you need to know about Isoflurane pharmacology and a few extra bits for curiosity. The physical concept we will focus on in this episode is Daltons Law, which governs the partial pressures of varying molecules/atoms that float around a gas/

29 Oct 2025

EduCastPharmacology

Ep.44 –Introduction to Volatile Anaesthetic Agents For The FRCA Primary

Introduction to the Episode Volatile anaesthetic agents remain a core drug in modern anaesthetic practice, yet their behaviour is governed by complex physicochemical principles that can seem counterintuitive (at least to me!). Understanding how these agents transition between liquid and vapour state

17 Oct 2025

EduCastPharmacology

Ep.43 –Clonidine For The FRCA Primary

Clonidine is an alpha-2 adrenoceptor agonist. Progressively overshadowed by newer agents now the NHS can afford them, its pharmacological profile combining sedation, analgesia, and sympatholysis makes it handy for intensive care sedation, regional anaesthesia augmentation, and perioperative blood pr

3 Oct 2025

EduCastPharmacology

Ep.42– Dexmedetomidine For The FRCA Primary

Introducing Dexdor! Dexmedetomidine unlike traditional sedatives produces a distinctive sleep-like state that preserves patient arousability and respiratory drive (much like Clonidine), unlike GABA modulating agents that create a general depression of consciousness. This GasGasGas episode explores t

26 Sept 2025

EduCastPharmacology

Ep.41 –Midazolam For The FRCA Primary

Midazolam Midazolam represents the chief benzodiazepine in perioperative medicine, offering rapid onset sedation, anxiolysis, and amnesia with predictable pharmacokinetics. Understanding its mechanism of action, dosing strategies, and clinical utility is fundamental for anaesthetic practice / sedati

17 Sept 2025

EduCastPharmacology

Ep.40 –Etomidate For The FRCA Primary

Etomidate: The Cardiovascularly Stable Hypnotic with a Cortisol Problem Understanding Etomidate for the FRCA exam needs to be somewhere on your list of things to learn, but not too near the top… It sounds great, and was used muchly, a hypnotic agent with exceptional cardiovascular stability! B

12 Sept 2025

EduCastPharmacology

Ep.39 – Classifying Isomers For The FRCA Primary

Introduction to the Episode Understanding the concepts of stereochemistry and classifying isomers is important in modern anaesthetic practice. The three-dimensional arrangement of atoms within drug molecules directly impacts their pharmacological properties, with some arrangements being therapeutica

5 Sept 2025

EduCastPharmacology

Everything! Your brain needs to know about Local Anaesthetics For The FRCA Primary

Welcome to the comprehensive GasGasGas collection of knowledge regarding local anaesthetics for the FRCA Primary Exam. This full series covers every major local anaesthetic you’ll encounter in uk anaesthetic practice, handles the fundamentals of sodium channel pharmacology and onset mechanics

30 Aug 2025

EduCastPharmacology

Ep.38–Peri-Neural Adjuncts to Local Anaesthetics – For The FRCA Primary

How might you add an adjunct to augment a block, making it better, or last longer? Peri-neural adjuncts are an off-license area for you to consider/understand and enquire about! Regional anaesthesia is becoming progressively more ingrained in clinical practice, most fresh consultants do regional and

29 Aug 2025

EduCastPharmacology

Ep.37a: Comparing Local Anaesthetics For The FRCA Primary

Comparing Local Anaesthetics Comparing local anaesthetics and selecting for specific indication is core anaesthetic work! Its also examined in in the FRCA Primary Exam. From simple cannulation to emergency caesarean sections they are ubiquitous. This post summarises the pharmacological properties of

25 Aug 2025

EduCastPharmacology

Ep.37b: Local Anaesthetic Quiz For The FRCA Primary

Herein lies the ‘lets get down to Quiz-ness’ local anaesthetic pharmacology quiz’ You opened a chest at the end of a D&D dungeon complex and happen to find, Dr Gas’ excellent Local Anaesthetic Quiz. How exciting, mayhap it will help you learn everything you need to know f

25 Aug 2025

EduCastPharmacology

Ep.36: Local Anaesthetic Systemic Toxicity (LAST) For the FRCA Primary

Introduction Local Anaesthetic Systemic Toxicity (LAST) represents one of the most clinically significant complications in regional anaesthesia practice. This episode explores the pathophysiology, recognition, and management of LAST with particular emphasis on emergency management protocols and risk

14 Aug 2025

EduCastPharmacology

Ep.35 – Ropivacaine For The FRCA Primary

Welcome to another episode of Gas Gas Gas, where we dig deep into the pharmacology of Ropivacaine, for regional things bar intrathecal in the UK. (licence) If you’re a UK anaesthetist then you might not of actually seen Ropivacaine in the cupboard, but when bupivacaine was in short supply it c

7 Aug 2025

EduCastPharmacologyPodcast

Almost Everything You Need to Know About Opioids for the FRCA Primary Exam

Complete GasGasGas Opioid Series Welcome to the almost definitive collection of knowledge regarding opioids for the FRCA Primary Exam. This comprehensive series covers every major opioid you’ll encounter in anaesthetic practice, from the fundamentals of receptor pharmacology to advanced clinic

4 Aug 2025

EduCastPharmacology

Ep.34 – Lidocaine For The FRCA Primary

Welcome to lidocaine, come in and take a seat, for lidocaine is the ubiquitous local anaesthetic accommodating clinicians everywhere. Whether you’re preparing for your primary FRCA exams or just starting your anaesthesia rotations, understanding lidocaine’s extensive clinical application

30 Jul 2025

EduCastPharmacology

Ep.33 – Prilocaine For The FRCA Primary

Welcome to the prilocaine episode a local anaesthetic that’s often overshadowed by Bupivacaine but deserves a place in your clinical toolkit. Whether you’re preparing and studying up on Prilocaine For The FRCA Primary exams or just starting your anaesthesia rotations, understanding prilo

23 Jul 2025

EduCastPharmacology

Ep.32 – Cocaine For the FRCA Primary

If you like a story about extensive testicular traction and hammering shins then this is the episode for you.  This FRCA Primary Podcast episode explores cocaine and the exposure patients have to it in the clinical environment, chiefly, courtesy of the ENT surgeons. The episode explores mechani

17 Jul 2025

EduCastPharmacology

Ep.31 – Bupivacaine for the FRCA Primary Exam

In this episode, we dive deep into the bupivacaine knowledge for the FRCA primary exam (It is the most common spinal drug in the uk after all!), exploring its friends (additives), mechanisms of action, and clinical applications. We’ll also cover the key differences between neuronal and cardiac

8 Jul 2025

EduCastPharmacologyPodcast

Ep.30 – Local Anaesthetic Fundamentals for the FRCA Primary

Local anaesthetics are fundamental to anaesthetic practice and a key element in the FRCA Primary Exam. From simple cannulation to emergency caesarean sections they are ubiquitous. This episode establishes the scientific foundation you need to understand how these drugs work, why they behave differen

25 Jun 2025

EduCastPharmacologyPodcast

Ep.29 – Comparing Opioids For the FRCA Primary

Opioids are a significant cornerstone of anaesthetic practice (and the primary FRCA exam), forming part of the triad of anaesthesia with their analgesic properties. Hence why Comparing Opioids For the FRCA Primary exam is our final opioid episode! We utilise these analgesic properties not just becau

17 Jun 2025

EduCastPharmacologyPodcast

Ep.28 – Remifentanil and the Minto Model

Remifentanil is a dream: ultra-short acting, reliably titratable, and deeply potent. This episode takes a dual-pronged approach, covering both the FRCA-relevant pharmacology of remifentanil and introducing the Minto target-controlled infusion (TCI) model. You absolutely should have a grip of a drug

9 Jun 2025

EduCastPharmacology

Ep.26 – Neuraxial Opiate Kinetics

Introduction In this explainer episode of GasGasGas, James delves into the joyful complexities of neuraxial opiate pharmacology. Why do we bother putting opiates into this space at all? What governs their journey, how do they behave once administered, and what clinical pearls can be drawn from their

1 Jun 2025

EduCastOpioidsPharmacologyPodcast

Ep 25 – DiaMorphine

Diamorphine for the FRCA Primary In this episode of Gas, Gas, Gas, we dive deep into the pharmacology of diamorphine also known by its more notorious street name, heroin. Diamorphine is a synthetic diacetylated derivative of morphine, and this episode details its mechanism of action, clinical applic

29 May 2025

EduCastOpioidsPharmacologyPodcast

Ep 25 – Oxycodone for the FRCA Primary

Introduction Oxycodone is a semi‑synthetic opioid widely used for moderate‑to‑severe acute and cancer‑related pain. Its higher oral bio‑availability and potency relative to morphine make it a common choice in peri‑operative analgesia, patient‑controlled analgesia (PCA) and palliative care, topics ex

22 May 2025

EduCastOpioidsPharmacologyPodcast

Ep 24 – Methadone for the FRCA Primary

In this episode of the GasGasGas, we learn about methadone for the FRCA primary exam, its pharmacology, diverse receptor activity, and relevance in both chronic pain and addiction management. While traditionally associated with managing opioid dependency, methadone’s unique pharmacodynamics an

10 May 2025

EduCastOpioidsPharmacologyPodcast

Ep 23 – Tramadol for the FRCA Primary Exam

Introduction In this episode of GasGasGas, primary FRCA podcast, we dissect Tramadol, a somewhat controversial yet commonly encountered analgesic. While some clinicians appreciate its multimodal action, others question its efficacy. Understanding its nuanced pharmacology is crucial for FRCA candidat

7 May 2025

EduCastOpioidsPharmacologyPodcast

Ep.22 – Alfentanil for the FRCA Primary

In this episode of GasGasGas, we explore the knowledge need re: Alfentanil for the FRCA primary exam, it is a short-acting μ-opioid receptor agonist that is ideal for anaesthetic practice. Discovered in 1976 by Janssen Pharmaceuticals, Alfentanil remains a valuable agent, especially for (modified) r

28 Apr 2025

EduCastPharmacologyPodcast

Ep 18 – Poly-Compartmental Madness – Part Two

Poly-Compartmental Confabulations, The Rubber Ducky Effect Site and more. This episode and post pairing will have you talking multi compartmental model pharmacokinetics like a champion in no time. How do compartment models explain drug distribution? Compartment models simulate how drugs distribute a

20 Jan 2025

EduCastPharmacologyPodcast

Ep 17 – Poly Compartmental Madness – Part One

This FRCA podcast series will cover the multi-compartmental model We shall cover half-time, time constant, natural logs, Bi-Exponential Decay and Ficks Law of Diffusion. This is the build up to compartmentalising humans for TCI – these compartments are distinct but not necessarily anatomic or truly,

8 Jan 2025

EduCastPharmacologyPodcast

Ep 16 – Suxamethonium for the FRCA Primary Exam

Suxamethonium, aka Sux.   A very speedy onset depolarising muscle relaxant.  It gets a bad rap, some people call it a horrible and mean drug, and I’m personally sure every time it gets used a panda expires. Used less and less as the familiarity of rocuronium climbs, perhaps suggamadex

29 Nov 2024

EduCastOpioidsPharmacologyPodcast

Ep 15 – Morphine for the FRCA Primary Exam

Morphine for the FRCA Primary Exam This FRCA Primary Exam Podcast analyses Morphine, particularly the opiate receptors, mechanisms, pharmacokinetics and pharmacodynamics finishing up with clinical use. I appreciate that everyone is very familiar with Morphine, this creates two issues: So, I’ve been

22 Nov 2024

EduCastPharmacologyPodcast

Ep 14 – Ketamine for the FRCA

This episode is going to explore Ketamine and the knowledge you need for the FRCA primary. Chiefly, its properties, clinical uses, metabolism / clearance and we will spend some time on the NMDA receptor complex and what it gets up to! I want to stress right now that it is not a ‘get out of [&h

17 Nov 2024

EduCastPharmacologyPodcast

Ep 12 – Comparing Volatiles for the FRCA

This episode focuses on drawing comparisons between the different volatile anaesthetic agents. There is every chance that you’ll be asked to compare and contrast a panel of drugs which yield similar clinical effects, like the opiates, hypnotics, volatiles or neuromuscular blocking agents. It&#

11 Nov 2024

EduCastPharmacologyPodcast

Ep 9 – Atracurium For The FRCA Primary

Atracurium Is an oft used drug for muscle relaxation in anaesthesia given its very predictable offset, equally used in the critical care environment when paralysis for ventilation in critical ARDS is required. Check out the other episodes on suxamethonium and rocuronium, as well as the VIVAcast thin

9 Nov 2024

EduCastPharmacologyPodcast

Ep 11 – MAC and the Partition Co-Efficients

This episode covers MAC (minimum alveolar concentration) and the concepts of blood:gas and oil:gas coefficients. We will explore the different MAC’s that are sometimes spoken of and make sure we are all on the same page about how volatile agents get in and the ratios they distribute themselves

9 Nov 2024

EduCastPharmacologyPodcast

Ep 10 – Michaelis-Menten Enzyme Kinetics & Law of Mass action

Michaelis-Menten enzyme kinetics are a corner stone of hepatic clearance, enzyme activity and directly relate to the concepts of receptor binding and receptor affinity. It graphically represents the effects or partial vs complete agonism/antagonism. And this introduction to logarithmic graphs displa

9 Nov 2024

EduCastPharmacologyPodcast

Ep 8 – Thiopentone For The FRCA Primary

This episode covered Thiopentone For the FRCA Primary, it is a classic induction agent and considered a bit more BP stable when compared to propofol. Dr Gas conducted his first ever RSI with Thio+suxamethonium, but went off recipe and added in some Alfentanil at the start too. What is Thiopentone? Thiopentone

9 Nov 2024

EduCastPharmacologyPodcast

Ep 7 – Compartmentalised Volatiles and a brief jaunt with Sevoflurane

Compartmentalised Volatiles by this I am talking about the behaviours governing respective anaesthetic and patient compartment as they equilibrate with volatile agents, in this case Sevoflurane is our example. Sevoflurane is the most commonly used volatile / inhalational anaesthetic agent in UK prac

8 Nov 2024

EduCastOpioidsPharmacologyPodcast

Ep 3 – Fentanyl For The FRCA Primary

We’re talking the core fentanyl waffle, and a jump into the opiate GPCRs. Closing up with some talk on using fentanyl in day to day practice. Very commonly used opiate, chief uses include as a co-induction agent for anaesthesia, perioperative pain control, post op pain control and as an elemen

8 Nov 2024

EduCastPharmacologyPodcast

Ep 6 – Hepatic Clearance For The FRCA Primary

This episode explores Hepatic Clearance of drugs and moves on to First and Zero Order Kinetics, these concepts are the building blocks for exponential decay that occurs in pharmacokinetic systems, check out Michaelis-menten enzyme kinetics and the multi compartmental madness / sevoflurane jaunt epis

8 Nov 2024

EduCastPharmacologyPodcast

Ep 2 – Propofol for the FRCA Primary

Propofol is the most commonly used anaesthetic induction agent in UK healthcare Its Utility is endless, used for induction of anaesthesia (where it massively reduces laryngeal reflexes), maintenance of anaesthesia, procedural sedation in theatre and in other hospital areas (ED/ cardioversion etc) an

8 Nov 2024

EduCastPharmacologyPodcast

Ep 1 – Rocuronium For The FRCA Primary

The first ever episode of Gas Gas Gas, which looking back a year or so later, it has been quite a journey of technical and organisational progress, anyway, sentimentality aside. We begin with Rocuronium, We talk pharmacologic data, mechanism of action and the neuromuscular junction. We crack out a m

8 Nov 2024

EduCastPharmacologyPodcast

Ep 4 – Volume of Distribution For The FRCA Primary

This Episode Cracks on with a make believe…. concept! Volume of Distribution is an important concept to understand as it is a building block to thinking about multi-compartmental pharmacokinetics. Check out the multi-compartmental madness episodes if you want to jump ahead Madness Part 1 &#821

8 Nov 2024

EduCastPharmacologyPodcast

Ep 5 – pKa For The FRCA Primary

pKA to script it more accurately. What is pKa and why does it matter? pKa is the association/disassociation constant It’s a number used to specify the balance of ionised and unionised molecules in a system, it is pH dependent. This is critical to the function of a drug as the unionised quantit

8 Nov 2024