page_title: Propofol
section_title: Pharmacokinetics
hierarchical_section_title: Propofol / Pharmacology / Pharmacokinetics
caption_attribution_description: English: 20ml ampule of propofol taken by Erich Schulz 2004
context_page_description: Propofol, marketed as Diprivan, among other names, is a short-acting medication that results in a decreased level of consciousness and a 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 by injection into a vein, and the maximum effect takes about two minutes to occur and typically lasts five to ten minutes.
  Common side effects of propofol include an irregular heart rate, low blood pressure, a burning sensation at the site of injection and the cessation of breathing. Other serious side effects may include seizures, infections due to improper use, addiction, and propofol infusion syndrome with long-term use. The medication appears to be safe for use during pregnancy but has not been well studied for use in this case. It is not recommended for use during a cesarean section. It is not a pain medication, so opioids such as morphine may also be used, however whether or not they are always needed is not clear. Propofol is believed to work at least partly via a receptor for GABA.
context_section_description: Propofol is highly protein-bound in vivo and is metabolised by conjugation in the liver.
  The half-life of elimination of propofol has been estimated to be between 2 and 24 hours. However, its duration of clinical effect is much shorter, because propofol is rapidly distributed into peripheral tissues. When used for IV sedation, a single dose of propofol typically wears off within minutes. Propofol is versatile; the drug can be given for short or prolonged sedation, as well as for general anesthesia. Its use is not associated with nausea as is often seen with opioid medications. These characteristics of rapid onset and recovery along with its amnestic effects have led to its widespread use for sedation and anesthesia.
caption: A 20-ml ampoule of 1% propofol emulsion, as sold in Australia by Sandoz
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