[pmoriarty]

Right, midazolam (aka versed) is a common one. So is propofol (colloquially known as "milk of amnesia").

I've read some horror stories online about people having postoperative nightmares about what they experienced while on the operating table while under versed, so I was really afraid to take it when I went under general anesthesia myself.. but I've had it a bunch of times now, and never experienced anything like that myself.

My postoperative amnesia has been complete, and I'm happy for that.

On the other hand, I still worry about what I might have experienced that I don't remember.

[nerdponx]

Falling asleep at night after an upper endoscopy, I had a vague recollection of the feeling of retching during the procedure. I know that they try to sedate as lightly as possible, so maybe they undershot slightly in my case. I think I had asked the anesthesiologist what they gave me when I was waking up, because I felt particularly hung over, and they said it was propofol.

[cubefox]

I really hope they verify these anaesthetics by doing brain scans during surgery to check whether any pain areas in the brain are activated.

[hackinthebochs]

At least for some anesthetics, the pain centers will be active while under anesthesia. Rather, interconnectivity between brain areas is disrupted, preventing your conscious experience of pain. Whether or not that is a case of amnesia regarding what you experienced, or a genuine lack of experience, is an open question. Although I firmly believe that brain wide integration is necessary for consciousness and so there is no experience of pain.

[cubefox]

I guess another test would be to try to interrupt connectivity without amnesia or paralysis. This could lead to evidence for pain.

[polishdude20]

I wonder if the pain sensation in your brain , despite not being connected consciously to your experience, has some lingering after effects. Like the engine room of a ship springing a leak but the bridge is just fine and never noticed it when it happened.

[BLKNSLVR]

Great song by Gaylord, Milk of Amnesia:

https://youtube.com/watch?v=cFfQILesiXE&feature=share7