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What is Methoxyflurane
NOTE: This drug is discontinued in the US.
Methoxyflurane is a volatile liquid used as a general anesthetic and administered by vaporization.
It is nonflammable and nonexplosive in air, oxygen, and nitrous oxide at ordinary room temperature. Induction and recovery from anesthesia is slow with methoxyflurane, and the depth of anesthesia cannot be rapidly adjusted.
It can be used in low concentrations to provide analgesia during procedures that do not require loss of consciousness such as obstetrical procedures. Analgesia and drowsiness can persist after surgical anesthesia, reducing or obviating the need for narcotics in the immediate postoperative period.
When used in safe concentrations, it will not produce appreciable muscle relaxation, although adjunctive muscle relaxants can be used without complication.
Indications
- general anesthesia induction
- severe pain
Side Effects
- bronchospasm
- drowsiness
- fetal death
- hepatic necrosis
- hypotension
- jaundice
- malignant hyperthermia
- nausea
- premature ventricular contractions (PVCs)
- renal tubular obstruction
- respiratory depression
- spontaneous fetal abortion
- teratogenesis
- tremor
- vomiting
Monitoring Parameters
- arterial blood gases (ABGs)
Contraindications
- accidental exposure
- breast-feeding
- children
- diabetes mellitus
- eclampsia
- geriatric
- halothane anesthesia
- head trauma
- hepatic disease
- increased intracranial pressure
- intracranial mass
- labor
- malignant hyperthermia
- myasthenia gravis
- neonates
- obstetric delivery
- polyuria
- preeclampsia
- pregnancy
- renal disease
Interactions
No information is available regarding drug interactions associated with Methoxyflurane
