Propofol
Also sold as: Propoflo, Diprivan, Propovan, Propoven
Related Medications
These drugs share a pharmacologic classification but are NOT interchangeable. Listing here does not imply clinical equivalence. A physician must evaluate each drug individually for the patient's specific condition.
Classification: General Anesthetic (source: RxClass/NLM)
- desfluraneGeneral AnestheticSame Class
- sevofluraneGeneral AnestheticSame Class
- etomidateGeneral AnestheticSame Class
- isofluraneGeneral AnestheticSame Class
- ketamineGeneral AnestheticSame Class
- tetracaineAnestheticSame Class
- bupivacaineAnestheticSame Class
- chloroprocaineAnestheticSame Class
- proparacaineAnestheticSame Class
- ropivacaineAnestheticSame Class
- articaineAnestheticSame Class
- lidocaineAnestheticSame Class
- mepivacaineAnestheticSame Class
- prilocaineAnestheticSame Class
Insurance Coverage User-Reported
No community coverage data yet for propofol.
Coverage data submission coming soon.
Drug Information
Mechanism of Action
12.1 Mechanism of Action The mechanism of action, like all general anesthetics, is poorly understood. However, propofol is thought to produce its sedative/anesthetic effects by the positive modulation of the inhibitory function of the neurotransmitter GABA through the ligand-gated GABA A receptors.
Indications & Uses
1 INDICATIONS AND USAGE Propofol injectable emulsion is an intravenous general anesthetic and sedation drug indicated for: Induction of General Anesthesia for Patients Greater than or Equal to 3 Years of Age Maintenance of General Anesthesia for Patients Greater than or Equal to 2 Months of Age Initiation and Maintenance of Monitored Anesthesia Care (MAC) Sedation in Adult Patients Sedation for Adult Patients in Combination with Regional Anesthesia Intensive Care Unit (ICU) Sedation of Intubated, Mechanically Ventilated Adult Patients Limitations of Use Propofol injectable emulsion is not recommended for induction of anesthesia below the age of 3 years or for maintenance of anesthesia below the age of 2 months because its safety and effectiveness have not been established in those populations [see Pediatric Use ( 8.4 )] . Safety, effectiveness and dosing guidelines for propofol injectable emulsion have not been established for MAC sedation in the pediatric population; therefore, it is not recommended for this use [see Pediatric Use ( 8.4 )]. Propofol injectable emulsion is not indicated for use in Pediatric ICU sedation since the safety of this regimen has not been established [see Pediatric Use ( 8.4 )]. Propofol injectable emulsion is an intravenous general anesthetic and sedation drug indicated for: Induction of General Anesthesia for Patients Greater than or Equal to 3 Years of Age Maintenance of General Anesthesia for Patients Greater than or Equal to 2 Months of Age Initiation and Maintenance of Monitored Anesthesia Care (MAC) Sedation in Adult Patients Sedation for Adult Patients in Combination with Regional Anesthesia Intensive Care Unit (ICU) Sedation of Intubated, Mechanically Ventilated Adult Patients Limitations of Use : Propofol injectable emulsion is not recommended for induction of anesthesia below the age of 3 years or for maintenance of anesthesia below the age of 2 months MAC sedation in the pediatric population is not recommended Propofol injectab
Dosage & Administration
2 DOSAGE AND ADMINISTRATION See Full Prescribing Information for detailed dosing instructions. 2.1 Important Dosage and Administration Information Parenteral drug products should be inspected visually for particulate matter and discoloration prior to administration whenever solution and container permit. Shake well before use. Do not use if there is evidence of excessive creaming or aggregation, if large droplets are visible, or if there are other forms of phase separation indicating that the stability of the product has been compromised. Slight creaming, which should disappear after shaking, may be visible upon prolonged standing. Do not use if there is evidence of separation of the phases of the emulsion. Propofol injectable emulsion with EDTA inhibits microbial growth for up to 12 hours, as demonstrated by test data for representative USP microorganisms. Product is packaged under nitrogen. For general anesthesia or monitored anesthesia care (MAC) sedation, propofol injectable emulsion should be administered only by persons trained in the administration of general anesthesia and not involved in the conduct of the surgical/diagnostic procedure. Sedated patients should be continuously monitored, and equipment for maintaining a patent airway, providing artificial ventilation, administering supplemental oxygen, and instituting cardiovascular resuscitation must be immediately available. Patients should be continuously monitored for early signs of hypotension, apnea, airway obstruction, and/or oxygen desaturation. These cardiorespiratory effects are more likely to occur following rapid bolus administration, especially in the elderly, debilitated, or ASA-PS III or IV patients. For sedation of intubated, mechanically ventilated adult patients in the Intensive Care Unit, propofol injectable emulsion should be administered only by persons skilled in the management of critically ill patients and trained in cardiovascular resuscitation and airway management. Guidelines for Aseptic Technique for General Anesthesia/MAC Sedation Propofol injectable emulsion must be prepared for use just prior to initiation of each individual anesthetic/sedative procedure. The vial rubber stopper should be disinfected using 70% isopropyl alcohol. Propofol injectable emulsion should be drawn into a sterile syringe immediately after a vial is opened. When withdrawing propofol injectable emulsion from vials, a sterile vent spike should be used. The syringe should be labelled with appropriate information including the date and time the vial was opened. Administration should commence promptly and be completed within 12 hours after the vial has been opened. Propofol injectable emulsion must be prepared for single dose only. Any unused propofol injectable emulsion drug product, reservoirs, dedicated administration tubing and/or solutions containing propofol injectable emulsion must be discarded at the end of the anesthetic procedure or at 12 hours, whichever occurs sooner. The intravenous line should be flushed every 12 hours and at the end of the anesthetic procedure to remove residual propofol injectable emulsion. [see Warnings and Precautions ( 5.2 )] . Guidelines for Aseptic Technique for ICU Sedation Propofol injectable emulsion must be prepared for single dose only. Strict aseptic techniques must be followed. The vial rubber stopper should be disinfected using 70% isopropyl alcohol. A sterile vent spike and sterile tubing must be used for administration of propofol injectable emulsion. As with other lipid emulsions, the number of intravenous line manipulations should be minimized. Administration should commence promptly and must be completed within 12 hours after the vial has been spiked. The tubing and any unused propofol injectable emulsion drug product must be discarded after 12 hours. If propofol injectable emulsion is transferred to a syringe prior to administration, it should be drawn into a sterile syringe immediately after a vial is opened. When withdrawing propofol injectable emulsion from a vial, a sterile vent spike should be used. The syringe should be labelled with appropriate information including the date and time the vial was opened. Administration should commence promptly and be completed within 12 hours after the vial has been opened. Propofol injectable emulsion should be discarded and administration lines changed after 12 hours. [see Warnings and Precautions ( 5.2 )] Administration with Lidocaine If lidocaine is to be administered to minimize pain on injection of propofol injectable emulsion, it is recommended that it be administered prior to propofol injectable emulsion administration or that it be added to propofol injectable emulsion immediately before administration and in quantities not exceeding 20 mg lidocaine/200 mg propofol injectable emulsion. [see Warnings and Precautions ( 5.13 )] Compatibility and Stability Propofol injectable emulsion should not be mixed with other therapeutic agents prior to administrati
Side Effects (Adverse Reactions)
6 ADVERSE REACTIONS The following serious or otherwise important adverse reactions are discussed elsewhere in the labeling: Hypersensitivity reaction [see Warnings and Precautions ( 5.1 )] Hypotension and/or bradycardia [see Warnings and Precautions ( 5.4 )] Propofol Infusion Syndrome [see Warnings and Precautions ( 5.9 )] In the description below, rates of the more common events represent US/Canadian clinical study results. Less frequent events are also derived from publications and marketing experience in over 8 million patients; there are insufficient data to support an accurate estimate of their incidence rates. These studies were conducted using a variety of premedicants, varying lengths of surgical/diagnostic procedures, and various other anesthetic/sedative agents. Most adverse events were mild and transient. Clinical Trials Experience Because clinical trials are conducted under widely varying conditions, adverse reaction rates observed in the clinical trials of a drug cannot be directly compared to rates in the clinical trials of another drug and may not reflect the rates observed in practice. Anesthesia and MAC Sedation in Adults The following estimates of adverse events for propofol injectable emulsion include data from clinical trials in general anesthesia/MAC sedation (N=2,889 adult patients). The adverse events listed below as probably causally related are those events in which the actual incidence rate in patients treated with propofol injectable emulsion was greater than the comparator incidence rate in these trials. Therefore, incidence rates for anesthesia and MAC sedation in adults generally represent estimates of the percentage of clinical trial patients which appeared to have probable causal relationship. The adverse experience profile from reports of 150 patients in the MAC sedation clinical trials is similar to the profile established with propofol injectable emulsion during anesthesia (see Table 3 below). During MAC sedation clinical trials, significant respiratory events included cough, upper airway obstruction, apnea, hypoventilation, and dyspnea. Anesthesia in Pediatric Patients Generally, the adverse experience profile from reports of 506 propofol injectable emulsion pediatric patients from 6 days through 16 years of age in the US/Canadian anesthesia clinical trials is similar to the profile established with propofol injectable emulsion during anesthesia in adults. Although not reported as an adverse event in clinical trials, apnea is frequently observed in pediatric patients. ICU Sedation in Adults The following estimates of adverse events include data from clinical trials in ICU sedation (N=159 adult patients). Probably related incidence rates for ICU sedation were determined by individual case report form review. Probable causality was based upon an apparent dose response relationship and/or positive responses to rechallenge. In many instances the presence of concomitant disease and concomitant therapy made the causal relationship unknown. Therefore, incidence rates for ICU sedation generally represent estimates of the percentage of clinical trial patients which appeared to have a probable causal relationship. Table 2. Treatment Emergent Adverse Events Observed from Clinical Trials Anesthesia/MAC Sedation ICU Sedation Body as a Whole: Anaphylaxis/Anaphylactoid reaction perinatal disorder, tachycardia, bigeminy, bradycardia, premature ventricular contractions, hemorrhage, ECG abnormal arrhythmia atrial, fever, extremities pain , anticholinergic syndrome, asthenia, awareness, chest pain, extremities pain, fever, increased drug effect, neck rigidity/stiffness, trunk pain Fever, sepsis, trunk pain, whole body weakness Cardiovascular: Premature atrial contractions Syncope, hypotension [see also Clinical Pharmacology ( 12 )], t achycardia Nodal, arrhythmia Bradycardia, arrhythmia, atrial fibrillation, atrioventricular heart block, bigeminy, bleeding, bundle branch block, cardiac arrest, ECG abnormal, edema, extrasystole, heart block, hypertension, myocardial infarction, myocardial ischemia, premature ventricular contractions, ST segment depression, supraventricular tachycardia, tachycardia, ventricular fibrillation Bradycardia, decreased cardiac output, arrhythmia, atrial fibrillation, bigeminy, cardiac arrest, extrasystole, right heart failure, ventricular tachycardia Central Nervous System: Hypertonia/Dystonia, paresthesia, movement, abnormal dreams, agitation, amorous behavior, anxiety, bucking/jerking/thrashing, chills/shivering/clonic/myoclonic movement, combativeness, confusion, delirium, depression, dizziness, emotional lability, euphoria, fatigue, hallucinations, headache, hypotonia, hysteria, insomnia, moaning, neuropathy, opisthotonos, rigidity, seizures, somnolence, tremor, twitching Agitation, hypotension, hills/shivering, intracranial hypertension, seizures, somnolence, thinking abnormal Digestive: Hypersalivation, nausea, cramping, diarrhea, dry mouth, enlarged parotid,
Drug Interactions
7 DRUG INTERACTIONS Opioids and Sedatives The induction dose requirements of propofol injectable emulsion may be reduced in patients with intramuscular or intravenous premedication, particularly with opioids (e.g., morphine, meperidine, and fentanyl, etc.) and combinations of opioids and sedatives (e.g., benzodiazepines, barbiturates, chloral hydrate, droperidol, etc.). These agents may increase the anesthetic or sedative effects of propofol injectable emulsion and may also result in more pronounced decreases in systolic, diastolic, and mean arterial pressures and cardiac output. In pediatric patients, administration of fentanyl concomitantly with propofol injectable emulsion may result in serious bradycardia. Analgesic Agents During maintenance of anesthesia or sedation, the rate of propofol injectable emulsion administration should be adjusted according to the desired level of anesthesia or sedation and may be reduced in the presence of supplemental analgesic agents (e.g., nitrous oxide or opioids). The concurrent administration of potent inhalational agents (e.g., isoflurane, sevoflurane, desflurane, enflurane, and halothane) during maintenance with propofol injectable emulsion are routinely used. These inhalational agents can also be expected to increase the anesthetic or sedative and cardiorespiratory effects of propofol injectable emulsion. Valproate The concomitant use of valproate and propofol may lead to increased blood levels of propofol. Reduce the dose of propofol when co-administering with valproate. Monitor patients closely for signs of increased sedation or cardiorespiratory depression. Common Neuromuscular Blocking Agents Propofol injectable emulsion does not cause a clinically significant change in onset, intensity or duration of action of the commonly used neuromuscular blocking agents (e.g., succinylcholine and nondepolarizing muscle relaxants). Common Drugs Used as Premedication or Drugs Used During Anesthesia or Sedation No significant adverse interactions with commonly used premedications or drugs used during anesthesia or sedation (including a range of muscle relaxants, inhalational agents, analgesic agents, and local anesthetic agents) have been observed in adults. Opioids, Sedatives or Other Analgesic Agents : May increase the anesthetic/sedative and cardiorespiratory effects (7 ) Valproate : May lead to increased blood levels of propofol (7 )
Contraindications
4 CONTRAINDICATIONS Propofol injectable emulsion is contraindicated in patients with a known hypersensitivity to propofol or any of propofol injectable emulsion components. Propofol injectable emulsion is contraindicated in patients with a history of anaphylaxis to eggs, egg products, soybeans or soy products. Known hypersensitivity to propofol, egg or soybean ( 4 )
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Medical Disclaimer: Information on this page is sourced from FDA-approved labeling data and is for educational reference only. It does not constitute medical advice. This information does not establish a provider-patient relationship. Always verify with current prescribing information and consult a licensed healthcare professional before any clinical decision. Read full disclaimer.
Data sourced from RxNorm (NLM/NIH), FDA Orange Book, OpenFDA, DailyMed. Last updated: 2026-03-02.