propofol at a glance
Medicine class
Intravenous general anaesthetic and sedative
Administration
Given into a vein by a trained anaesthesia or intensive-care clinician
Monitoring
Breathing, oxygen levels and circulation need continuous monitoring
Pain relief
Not a painkiller; separate analgesia is often needed
What is propofol used for?
The selected UK product is licensed for:
Starting and maintaining general anaesthesia in adults and children older than 1 month.
Sedation during diagnostic or surgical procedures in adults and children older than 1 month, with or without local or regional anaesthesia.
Sedation of ventilated intensive-care patients older than 16 years.
How does propofol work?
Propofol strengthens inhibitory signalling through GABA-A receptors in the brain, rapidly reducing central nervous system activity to produce sedation or unconsciousness.
propofol preparations and strengths
Injection
Route: Parenteral
Strengths: 10 mg/mL, 20 mg/mL, 1%, 2%
How to take propofol
Propofol is not taken at home. Trained staff inject or infuse it through a cannula where breathing and circulation can be supported.
Follow hospital instructions about fasting and usual medicines.
Tell the anaesthetic team about allergies, health conditions, pregnancy, breastfeeding, and all medicines or recreational substances used.
Arrange an escort and follow discharge instructions.
Do not drive, operate machinery, drink alcohol, make important decisions or care for dependants alone while post-anaesthetic restrictions apply.
propofol side effects
Common or expected effects
- Pain where propofol enters the vein
- Low blood pressure
- Slow heartbeat
- Briefly stopping breathing during induction
- Headache during recovery
- Nausea or vomiting during recovery
Get urgent medical advice
- Severe allergic reaction, including swelling, wheezing or shock
- Severe respiratory or cardiovascular depression
- Convulsions or prolonged unconsciousness
- Propofol infusion syndrome, which may involve metabolic acidosis, muscle breakdown, high potassium, abnormal heart rhythm, kidney failure or rapidly worsening heart failure
- Severe tissue injury following accidental injection outside the vein
propofol in pregnancy
Safety in pregnancy is not established. Propofol crosses the placenta and may depress the newborn, so use requires an anaesthetist-led assessment and is generally reserved for when clearly necessary. Tell the team if you are pregnant or could be pregnant.
propofol while breastfeeding
Small amounts enter breast milk. The selected product information advises withholding breastfeeding and discarding expressed milk for 24 hours, while current UK perioperative guidance indicates breastfeeding can usually resume once the patient is awake, alert and able to care safely for the infant. Agree a plan with the anaesthetic and infant-feeding team.
propofol interactions
The anaesthetist needs a complete list of medicines and substances because combinations may deepen sedation or affect breathing and circulation.
Opioids, benzodiazepines, inhaled anaesthetics and other central nervous system depressants
Sedative, respiratory and cardiovascular effects can be additive.
Midazolam
May enhance sedation and respiratory depression.
Dexmedetomidine
May enhance propofol’s effects.
Common questions about propofol
Answers are fully visible for fast scanning and source review.
Is propofol a general anaesthetic or a sedative?
It can be either. Clinicians adjust administration to produce general anaesthesia or an appropriate depth of sedation.
Is propofol a painkiller?
No. Separate pain relief is generally required for painful procedures.
How is propofol given?
Sources
These sources were used to prepare and review this medicine page.
Prepared and reviewed by the iatroX editorial team.