Clinical data | |
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AHFS/Drugs.com | Monograph |
Pregnancy category |
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Dependence liability |
Physical: very low (seizures) Psychological: no data |
Addiction liability |
Moderate |
Routes of administration |
Intravenous |
ATC code | |
Legal status | |
Legal status | |
Pharmacokinetic data | |
Bioavailability | NA |
Protein binding | 95% to 99% |
Metabolism | Liver glucuronidation |
Onset of action | 15 to 30 sec |
Biological half-life | 30 to 60 min |
Duration of action | 5 to 10 min |
Excretion | Liver |
Identifiers | |
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CAS Number | |
PubChem CID | |
IUPHAR/BPS | |
DrugBank | |
ChemSpider | |
UNII | |
KEGG | |
ChEBI | |
ChEMBL | |
ECHA InfoCard | 100.016.551 |
Chemical and physical data | |
Formula | C12H18O |
Molar mass | 178.271 g/mol |
3D model (Jmol) | |
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Propofol, marketed as Diprivan among others, is a short-acting medication that results in a decreased level of consciousness and lack of memory for events. Its uses include the starting and maintenance of general anesthesia, sedation for mechanically ventilated adults, and procedural sedation. It is also used for status epilepticus if other medications have not worked. It is given intravenously. Maximum effect takes about two minutes to occur and it typically lasts five to ten minutes.
Common side effects include an irregular heart rate, low blood pressure, burning sensation at the site of injection, and the stopping of breathing. Other serious side effects may include seizures, infections with improper use, addiction, and propofol infusion syndrome with long-term use. It appears to be safe for using during pregnancy but has not been well studied in this group. However, it is not recommended during cesarean section. Propofol is not a pain medication, so opioids such as morphine may also be used. Whether or not they are always needed is unclear. Propofol is believed to work at least partly via the receptor for GABA.
Propofol was discovered in 1977. It is on the World Health Organization's List of Essential Medicines, the most effective and safe medicines needed in a health system. It is available as a generic medication. The wholesale price in the developing world is between 0.61 and 8.50 USD per vial. It has been referred to as milk of amnesia because of the milk-like appearance of the intravenous preparation. Propofol is also used in veterinary medicine.