propofol

Generic Name: propofol (PROE poe fol)

Brand names: Diprivan, Propoven

What is propofol?

Propofol slows the activity of your brain and nervous system.

Propofol is used to help you relax before and during general anesthesia for surgery or other medical procedure. Propofol is also used in critically ill patients who require a breathing tube connected to a ventilator (a machine that moves air in and out of the lungs when a person cannot breathe on their own).

Propofol may be used for other purposes not listed in this medication guide.

What is the most important information I should know about propofol?

You should not receive this medication if you are allergic to propofol or to eggs, soy products, or soybeans.

Before you receive propofol, tell your doctor if you have epilepsy or other seizure disorder, high triglycerides (fats in the blood), liver disease, or kidney disease.

Your caregivers will monitor your heart function, blood pressure, and breathing while you are under the effects of propofol.

Tell your caregivers at once if you have a serious side effect such as seizure, weak or shallow breathing, fast or slow heart rate, or pain, swelling, blisters, or skin changes where the medicine was injected.

Before you receive propofol, tell your doctor about all other medications you use, especially chloral hydrate (Somnote), droperidol (Inapsine), a sedative, or a narcotic pain medication such as fentanyl (Actiq, Duragesic).

Propofol can cause severe drowsiness or dizziness, which may last for several hours. You will need someone to drive you home after your surgery or procedure. Do not drive yourself or do anything that requires you to be awake and alert for at least 24 hours after you have been treated with propofol.

What should I discuss with my health care provider before I receive propofol?

You should not receive this medication if you are allergic to propofol or to eggs, soy products, or soybeans.

If you have certain conditions, you may need a dose adjustment or special tests to safely receive this medication. Before you receive propofol, tell your doctor if you have:

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  epilepsy or other seizure disorder;

  
  


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  high triglycerides (fats in the blood);

  
  


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  liver disease; or

  
  


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  kidney disease.

  
  

FDA pregnancy category B. Propofol is not expected to be harmful to an unborn baby. However, tell your doctor if you are pregnant before you are treated with propofol. Propofol can pass into breast milk and may harm a nursing baby. Before you receive this medication, tell your doctor if you are breast-feeding a baby.

How is propofol given?

Propofol is given as an injection through a needle placed into a vein. You will receive this injection in a hospital or surgical setting.

You will relax and fall asleep very quickly after propofol is injected.

Your caregivers will monitor your heart function, blood pressure, and breathing while you are under the effects of propofol.

What happens if I miss a dose?

Since propofol is given by a healthcare professional in a controlled setting, you are not likely to miss a dose.

What happens if I overdose?

An overdose of propofol is unlikely to occur since the medication is given by a healthcare professional. Your vital signs will be closely watched while you are under anesthesia to make sure the medication is not causing any harmful effects.

What should I avoid after receiving propofol?

Propofol can cause severe drowsiness or dizziness, which may last for several hours. You will need someone to drive you home after your surgery or procedure. Do not drive yourself or do anything that requires you to be awake and alert for at least 24 hours after you have been treated with propofol.

Propofol side effects

Get emergency medical help if you have any of these signs of an allergic reaction: hives; difficulty breathing; swelling of your face, lips, tongue, or throat. Call your doctor at once if you have a serious side effect such as:

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  pain, swelling, blisters, or skin changes where the medicine was injected;

  
  


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  seizure (convulsions);

  
  


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  weak or shallow breathing; or

  
  


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  fast or slow heart rate.

  
  

Less serious side effects may include:

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  nausea;

  
  


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  cough;

  
  


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  slight burning or stinging around the IV needle;

  
  


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  mild itching or skin rash;

  
  


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  numbness or tingly feeling;

  
  


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  confusion, agitation, anxiety;

  
  


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  muscle pain; or

  
  


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  discolored urine.

  
  

This is not a complete list of side effects and others may occur. Tell your doctor about any unusual or bothersome side effect. You may report side effects to FDA at 1-800-FDA-1088.

Propofol Dosing Information

Usual Adult Dose for Anesthesia:

Less than 55 years: Anesthetic Induction: 40 mg IV every 10 seconds until induction onset. Total dose required is 2 to 2.5 mg/kg with a maximum of 250 mg.

Less than 55 years: Maintenance of Anesthesia: IV infusion: 100 to 200 mcg/kg/min. Maximum dose 20,000 mcg/min. Maximum dose 10,000 mcg/min.
Intermittent bolus: 20 to 50 mg as needed.

Cardiac Anesthesia: Induction: 20 mg every 10 seconds until induction onset (0.5 to 1.5 mg/kg).
Maintenance: Opioids are generally combined with propofol for maintenance of anesthesia.
100 to 150 mcg/kg/min (primary propofol)
50 to 100 mcg/kg/min (secondary propofol).
Maximum dose of 15,000 mcg/min.

Neurosurgery: Induction: 20 mg every 10 seconds until induction onset (1 to 2 mg/kg).
Maintenance: 100 to 200 mcg/kg/min with a maximum dose of 20,000 mcg/min.
Intermittent IV bolus doses of 0.3 to 0.7 mg/kg mg may be given for maintenance of anesthesia while on nitrous oxide.

ICU Sedation: Initial Continuous IV: 5 mcg/kg/min for intubated mechanically ventilated patients.
Maintenance Continuous IV: May increase in 5 to 10 mcg/kg/min increments every 5 minutes until the desired level of sedation is achieved. Typical maintenance range is 5 to 50 mcg/kg/min.
Bolus administration of 10 to 20 mg should only be used to rapidly increase depth of sedation in patients where hypotension is not likely to occur.

MAC sedation: Initial Continuous IV: 100 to 150 mcg/kg/min for 3 to 5 minutes or
Slow IV: 0.5 mg/kg over 3 to 5 minutes followed by:
Maintenance IV infusion: 25 to 75 mcg/kg/min (preferred) or
incremental bolus doses of 10 to 20 mg.

Usual Geriatric Dose for Anesthesia:

Elderly, debilitated, or ASA III/IV patients.
Induction: 20 mg every 10 seconds until induction onset (1-1.5 mg/kg). Maximum dose 200 mg
Maintenance: 50-100 mcg/kg/min.
MAC sedation: The maintenance dose is usually 80% of the usual adult dose.

Usual Pediatric Dose for Anesthesia:

3 years to 16 years: Induction: 2.5 to 3.5 mg/kg over 20 to 30 seconds.
Maintenance: 125 to 300 mcg/kg/min.

What other drugs will affect propofol?

Tell your doctor about all other medications you use, especially:

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  chloral hydrate (Somnote);

  
  


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  droperidol (Inapsine);

  
  


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  a barbiturate such as amobarbital (Amytal), butabarbital (Butisol), mephobarbital (Mebaral), secobarbital (Seconal), or phenobarbital (Solfoton);

  
  


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  diazepam (Valium) or similar medicines such as alprazolam (Xanax), chlordiazepoxide (Librium), clorazepate (Tranxene), estazolam (ProSom), flurazepam (Dalmane), lorazepam (Ativan), midazolam (Versed), temazepam (Restoril), triazolam (Halcion), and others; or

  
  


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  a narcotic medication such as fentanyl (Actiq, Duragesic), hydrocodone (Lortab, Vicodin), hydromorphone (Dilaudid, Palladone), morphine (Kadian, MS Contin, Oramorph, and others), oxycodone (OxyContin), oxymorphone (Numorphan, Opana), and others.

  
  

This list is not complete and there may be other drugs that can interact with propofol. Tell your doctor about all your prescription and over-the-counter medications, vitamins, minerals, herbal products, and drugs prescribed by other doctors. Do not start a new medication without telling your doctor.

More propofol resources

• Propofol Side Effects (in more detail)
• Propofol Dosage
• Propofol Use in Pregnancy & Breastfeeding
• Propofol Drug Interactions
• Propofol Support Group
• 44 Reviews for Propofol - Add your own review/rating

• Propofol Prescribing Information (FDA)


• Propofol Professional Patient Advice (Wolters Kluwer)


• Propofol Monograph (AHFS DI)


• Propofol MedFacts Consumer Leaflet (Wolters Kluwer)


• Diprivan Prescribing Information (FDA)


• Diprivan Consumer Overview

Compare propofol with other medications

• Anesthesia

Where can I get more information?

• Your doctor or pharmacist can provide more information about propofol.

See also: propofol side effects (in more detail)