Your anesthesia dose is decided by the drug, your age, your size, your health, and how you respond during surgery. Anesthesiologists do not use one fixed dose for everyone. They titrate, which means they adjust the medicine step by step until you are at the right depth of anesthesia. For propofol, the usual induction dose is lower in older adults, and the maintenance dose is also often reduced with age. For inhaled anesthetics like sevoflurane, isoflurane, and desflurane, the needed amount is guided by MAC, which is the concentration that prevents movement in 50% of patients. MAC goes down with age, so older patients usually need less.

Other medicines can change the dose too. Opioids and benzodiazepines can lower the amount of anesthetic needed. For propofol, adding opioids or benzodiazepines can also slow recovery. During surgery, the team watches your blood pressure, breathing, and other signs, then adjusts the medicine up or down as needed.

In short, your dose is based on your personal factors and your body’s response, not just on a standard chart. Verify the exact plan with your surgical or anesthesia team in case they want something different for you.