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Intravenous medication has been the most common method of induction of general anesthesia for many decades, primarily due to the speed of onset, lack of patient discomfort as unconsciousness develops, and the ability to select a drug (or drugs) and dosages tailored to the patient’s medical status. As there is no single ideal induction agent, the relative advantages and disadvantages of each agent must be understood in order to make a rational choice, especially for the older patient whose organ systems demonstrate diminished reserve with greater sensitivity and more adverse effects than their younger counterparts.