Isoflurane

Isoflurane

Clinical data
Trade names	Forane, others
AHFS/Drugs.com	FDA Professional Drug Information
Pregnancy category	C
Routes of administration	inhalation
ATC code	N01AB06 (WHO)
Identifiers
IUPAC name (RS)-2-Chloro-2-(difluoromethoxy)-1,1,1-trifluoro-ethane OR (RS)-1-chloro-2,2,2-trifluoroethyl difluoromethyl ether
CAS Number	26675-46-7 Y
PubChem (CID)	3763
IUPHAR/BPS	2505
DrugBank	DB00753 N
ChemSpider	3631 Y
UNII	CYS9AKD70P Y
KEGG	D00545 Y
ChEBI	CHEBI:6015 Y
ChEMBL	CHEMBL1256 Y
ECHA InfoCard	100.043.528
Chemical and physical data
Formula	C3H2ClF5O
Molar mass	184.5 g/mol
3D model (Jmol)	Interactive image
SMILES FC(F)(F)C(Cl)OC(F)F
InChI InChI=1S/C3H2ClF5O/c4-1(3(7,8)9)10-2(5)6/h1-2H Y Key:PIWKPBJCKXDKJR-UHFFFAOYSA-N Y
NY (what is this?)

Isoflurane, sold under the trade name Forane among others, is a general anesthetic. It can be used to start or maintain anesthesia. Often another medication, however, is used to start anesthesia due to airway irritation with isoflurane. It is used by inhalation.

Side effects include a decreased effort to breathe (respiratory depression), low blood pressure, and irregular heartbeat. Serious side effects may include malignant hyperthermia and high blood potassium. It should not be used in people with a history of malignant hyperthermia either in themselves or their family members. It is unknown if use during pregnancy is safe for the baby; however, use during a cesarean section appears to be okay. Isoflurane is in the halogenated ether family of medication.

Isoflurane was approved for medical use in the United States in 1979. It is on the World Health Organization's List of Essential Medicines, the most effective and safe medicines needed in a health system. The wholesale cost in the developing world is about 17.24 to 170.40 USD per 250 ml bottle.

Isoflurane is always administered in conjunction with air and/or pure oxygen. Often nitrous oxide is also used. Although its physical properties imply that anaesthesia can be induced more rapidly than with halothane, its pungency can irritate the respiratory system, negating this theoretical advantage conferred by its physical properties. It is usually used to maintain a state of general anesthesia that has been induced with another drug, such as thiopentone or propofol.