This document discusses general anesthetics used for inducing and maintaining anesthesia. It describes the two main types - inhalational anesthetics like isoflurane, sevoflurane, desflurane and nitrous oxide which are used for maintenance of anesthesia, and intravenous anesthetics like propofol, ketamine and thiopental which are used for induction of anesthesia. It also discusses principles of general anesthesia including goals, stages of anesthesia and mechanisms of action of different anesthetics.