By What is the drug propofol used for?
Propofol is used as an “induction agent”—the drug that causes loss of consciousness— for general anesthesia in major surgery. In lower doses it is also used for “conscious sedation” of patients getting procedures on an outpatient basis at ambulatory surgery centers.
Is propofol a narcotic?
Propofol has not been considered a controlled substance because it is not associated with physical dependency. Consequently, the addictive potential of the drug has received little attention.
What are side effects of the drug propofol?
Tell your doctor right away if you have chest pain or discomfort, confusion, dark-colored urine, dizziness, drowsiness, lightheadedness, fainting, fever, muscle cramps, spasms, pain, or stiffness, nausea, right upper abdominal or stomach pain and fullness, slow or irregular heartbeat, trouble breathing, stomach cramps.
Is it illegal to use propofol?
Propofol is a sleep inducer used to start and maintain anesthesia, and is largely used for conscious sedation endoscopy or cosmetic surgery. It was classified as a psychoactive drug here in 2011 and it is illegal to use it for anything other than surgical procedures.
How quickly does propofol work?
Propofol works quickly; most patients are unconscious within five minutes. “When the procedure is over and we stop the intravenous drip, it generally takes only 10 to 15 minutes before he or she is fairly wide awake again.”
What can I use instead of propofol?
Fospropofol (Lusedra®) is a water-soluble, non-pyrogenic, iso-osmotic pro-drug sedative-hypnotic agent that is metabolized to propofol, and, if dosed appropriately, may be an alternate drug selection to propofol in some patients undergoing monitored anesthesia care (MAC).
Do you talk under propofol?
Patients do not talk during the anaesthetic while they are unconscious, but it is not uncommon for them to do so during emergence from anaesthesia.