General Anesthetic drugs compared
Compare all 4 General Anesthetic drugs side by side, used for conditions such as burns, pain, delirium. They share one FDA-defined mechanism but differ in approved uses, prescription status, brand-vs-generic options, price, and FDA recall-safety record — which our independent rating scores. The highest-rated is ketamine hydrochloride.
Top-rated general anesthetic: 1. Ketamine Hydrochloride · 2. Diprivan · 3. Forane
| Drug | Generic | Form | Status | Used for | Safety ratingFDA recall-based | Pharmacy pays |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Ketamine Hydrochloride | — | Injectable | Prescription | Burns, Pain | 72/100 | $1 |
| Diprivan | Propofol | Injectable | Prescription | Delirium, Pain | 64/100 | $0 |
| Forane | Isoflurane | Spray/Inhaler | Prescription | Depressive Disorder, Status Asthmaticus | Not yet rated | — |
| Ketalar | Ketamine Hydrochloride | Injectable | Prescription | Burns, Pain | Not yet rated | $1 |
The safety rating column is unique to pharmaranks — an independent 0–100 score from FDA regulatory recall data. Higher is safer. Not medical advice.
Full ranking · 4 drugs
- 172/100
ketamine hydrochloride
Ketamine Hydrochloride
- 264/100
diprivan
Propofol
- 3New
forane
Isoflurane
- 4New
ketalar
Ketamine Hydrochloride
Frequently asked questions
What is the General Anesthetic drug class?
General Anesthetic is an FDA Established Pharmacologic Class (EPC) — a group of drugs that share a mechanism of action. pharmaranks lists 4 General Anesthetic products, each independently rated.
Are all General Anesthetic drugs the same?
No. General Anesthetic drugs share the same core mechanism — that is why they sit in one FDA class — but they differ in their approved uses, available forms, whether they are prescription or over-the-counter, brand-vs-generic options and price, and their FDA recall-safety record.
What conditions do General Anesthetic drugs treat?
Per NIH RxClass drug-classification data, General Anesthetic drugs are used for conditions including burns, pain, delirium, psychomotor agitation, status epilepticus, depressive disorder.
Which General Anesthetic drug is best-rated?
By our independent rating, ketamine hydrochloride currently ranks highest among General Anesthetic drugs. Ratings are based on FDA regulatory (recall-safety) data — always consult a professional.
Sources: the General Anesthetic class definition and its member drugs come from the U.S. NLM RxClass (Established Pharmacologic Class); how the class works is summarized from Isoflurane - StatPearls - NCBI Bookshelf. Ratings are pharmaranks’ independent FDA recall-safety analysis.