Best General Anesthetic for pain
Top-rated pick: Ketamine Hydrochloride — pharmaranks score 72/100, the highest of the 3 General Anesthetic drugs used for pain, ranked by our independent FDA recall-safety score. Compare them with all treatments for pain or the full General Anesthetic class. Not medical advice — always consult a professional.
Quick answer: Of the 3 general anesthetic drugs we rate for pain, all are available as lower-cost generics, and most are injectable. Our ranking reflects each drug’s FDA recall-safety record — not clinical effectiveness for pain; the right choice depends on your situation, so confirm it with your prescriber.
How general anesthetic work
General anesthetics produce reversible unconsciousness by altering the brain's chemical signaling: they boost the activity of calming GABA receptors while dampening excitatory NMDA receptors. This tips the brain into a deeply sedated state that prevents awareness, memory, and pain during surgery.
Other drug classes for pain
Top general anesthetic for pain: 1. Ketamine Hydrochloride · 2. Diprivan · 3. Ketalar
| # | Drug | Rating | Type | Form | Generic? | Pharmacy pays | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 72/100 | Prescription | Injectable | Generic | $1 | View → | |
| 2 | 64/100 | Prescription | Injectable | Generic | $0 | View → | |
| 3 | Not yet rated | Prescription | Injectable | Generic | $1 | View → |
Full ranking · 3 drugs
ketamine hydrochloride
PrescriptionFDA-sourced
Ketamine Hydrochloride is a general anesthetic used to treat Burns, Pain.
Pharmacy pays
From ~$0.53· 2 forms Save up to 83% in classdiprivan
PrescriptionFDA-sourced
Diprivan (Propofol) is a general anesthetic used to treat Delirium, Pain, Psychomotor Agitation, Status Epilepticus.
Pharmacy pays
$0.17 /mL
ketalar
PrescriptionFDA-sourced
Ketalar (Ketamine Hydrochloride) is a general anesthetic used to treat Burns, Pain.
Pharmacy pays
From ~$0.53· 2 forms Save up to 83% in classFrequently asked
- What is the best general anesthetic for pain?
- By our independent recall-safety rating — not an efficacy measure — ketamine hydrochloride ranks highest among General Anesthetic drugs used for pain. Always consult a professional.
- Which general anesthetic drugs treat pain?
- pharmaranks lists 3 General Anesthetic products used for pain, per NIH RxClass drug-classification data — each independently rated and ranked above.
- How are these ranked?
- By our independent score, currently based on FDA regulatory recall-safety data (the methodology blends additional sources as they come online). See the How we rate page.