Propofol Classe Terapeutica Courses

Propofol is a sedative-hypnotic drug that is used as an anesthetic during medical or surgical procedures, or to induce a short-term state of deep sleep in patients at the beginning or end of life care. Propofol belongs to the therapeutic class of drugs known as general anesthetics, which are used to induce unconsciousness, natural sleep, and muscle relaxation during some medical procedures. Propofol typically produces a rapid onset of action, within just a few minutes, and has a relatively short duration of action. It may also be used during endoscopies, cardiac catheterizations, and minor surgeries, such as the insertion of a central venous catheter (CVC). Side effects of propofol may include headache, nausea, and seizures. When given for longer periods of time, such as during a coma, propofol can cause alarmingly low blood pressure and slowed or depressed breathing. Propofol can also be used to produce a state of deep sleep or unconsciousness in critically ill patients in intensive care units, or comfort care patients at the end of life. In lower doses, propofol can be used as a sedative. It is sometimes mixed in small concentrations with other sedatives, such as midazolam, to provide an ongoing level of sedation.