Anesthetics are infrequently used without the administration
of other drugs.Many of these drug combinations
can interact to alter MAC requirements. For example,
inhalational anesthetics used in combination appear to have an additive effect on the level of unconsciousness.
Therefore, when a combination of inhalational
agents is used (e.g., N2O with halothane), MAC
values for the individual agents can be reduced appropriately.
In this regard, an acceptable anesthetic maintenance
tension for N2O and halothane in the inspired air
may be 40% and 0.5%, respectively.
