What is Propofol: Uses, Warnings & Interactions
Propofol is a sedative and anesthetic administered by healthcare providers for medical procedures. Most patients undergoing anesthesia will be unaware that they are on propofol. Given as an intravenous injection, propofol puts people to sleep and blocks pain. It’s a powerful drug that can only be given by professionals in a monitored clinical setting with adequate resuscitation equipment in case of problems.
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Propofol overview
BRAND NAMES:
Diprivan
Generic Names:
Propofol
Uses:
Provides sedation, general anesthesia, or regional anesthesia for medical procedures
Therapeutic Classes:
General anesthetic, sedative-hypnotic
Forms:
Injection
How it’s taken:
Intravenous infusion
What is Propofol used for?
In adults, propofol is used for sedation and anesthesia before, during, and after medical procedures. It’s also used in intensive care units to relax patients who are on mechanical ventilators. Healthcare professionals can use it in children for general anesthesia except in situations requiring constant monitoring by an anesthesiologist.
What form(s) does Propofol come in
Injectable
500 mg/50 mL vials
1,000 mg/100 mL vials
What are common Propofol doses?
Propofol is only administered by an anesthesiologist or healthcare provider as an intravenous infusion in a monitored clinical, hospital, or ICU setting.
Doses used and infusion rates will vary by person and by response.
The infusion rate and dose can change dynamically depending on the response.
Patients will be unaware of the dose and infusion rate being used.
Common Propofol prescriptions
Propofol
100ml of 1000mg/100ml vialPropofol
20ml of 200mg/20ml vialPropofol
50ml of 500mg/50ml vial
How to take Propofol
You will receive this medicine in a hospital or surgery center.
An anesthesiologist or healthcare provider will give you this medicine. In some cases, it may be given by a nurse or other healthcare professional.
What to do if you miss a dose of Propofol
Healthcare professionals administer and monitor propofol infusions.
Propofol contraindications
This medicine is not right for everyone.
Tell the healthcare provider if you have had an allergic reaction to propofol, eggs, egg products, soybeans, or soy products. The drug cannot safely be used if you have.
Propofol is contraindicated in children for certain uses.
Propofol warnings
The most important propofol warning is this: after you wake up, DO NOT drive, operate machinery, sign legal documents, or engage in any other risky or important activity for the rest of the day, even if you feel unimpaired. You will wake up quickly when propofol is stopped, but significant impairment will continue for hours afterward.
If propofol is used for an outpatient procedure, arrange to have someone else drive you to and from the clinic. Many clinics and hospitals will only let you leave once your driver arrives.
You will not be able to tell the healthcare provider that propofol is causing problems while you are unconscious.
Because of this, both anesthesiologists and healthcare providers carefully evaluate patients to determine the safety and dosage of sedatives and anesthetics like propofol. Make sure the healthcare provider knows about all medical conditions that you have, particularly any seizure disorder. Propofol can lead to seizures in the recovery period.
Propofol is administered in settings where you can be monitored. Infusion rates will be stopped or reduced if there are problems. The most likely problems a patient will have while unconscious are:
Low blood pressure
Slow heart rate
Apnea
Heart rhythm changes
Stiff muscles or convulsions in the recovery period
Propofol interactions
An anesthesiologist or healthcare provider will thoroughly review the medicines you take before using anesthetics like propofol. Make sure they know about all the prescription drugs, over-the-counter remedies, and supplements you take, particularly drugs that make you sleepy, like opioids or benzodiazepines.
Some of these may need to be stopped one or more days before the procedure. Follow the clinic’s instruction sheet in the days before your procedure.
Propofol side effects
Serious side effects
Most of the time, people will not be awake when they experience propofol side effects. The most serious side effects will be handled by the healthcare team while the patient is still unconscious. These include:
Respiratory depression or apnea
Serious heart issues, including heart attack
Seizures or muscle tightness in the recovery period
A severe allergic reaction called anaphylaxis
Less serious side effects
Pain at the start of the injection
Headache at the start of the injection
Drowsiness, impairment, or fatigue during and after recovery
Pain, burning, stinging, swelling, blistering, or skin changes where the needle was used
Sources:
Diprivan propofol emulsion injection, DailyMed (NIH National Library of Medicine)
Propofol, StatPearls
Propofol drug summary, Prescriber’s Digital Reference (PDR)
Propofol emulsion injection, DailyMed (NIH National Library of Medicine)
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