Introduction
Propofol belongs to the group of general anesthetics and is characterized by good controllability. The anesthetic accumulates in the body in extremely small quantities and has a short plasma half-life. This means that even after a short period of time, only half of the original concentration of the active substance is still present.
Propofol is applied through a vein and has a calming and anesthetic effect. The narcotic is mainly used in general anesthesia for the induction and maintenance of anesthesia in adults and children over six months of age. In intensive care medicine it plays an important role as a sedative.
Other areas of application are gastrointestinal endoscopy and other endoscopic examination methods. Compared to inhaled anesthetic gases, i.e. those that are inhaled, the side effects of Propofol are significantly less pronounced. In particular, nausea and vomiting are less frequent. Possible undesirable consequences after administration of propofol, on the other hand, are a drop in blood pressure and inhibition of breathing.
Indications for Propofol
First and foremost, Propofol plays an important role in general anesthesia. It serves as a means of inducing and maintaining anesthesia. It is applied intravenously.
Propofol is never administered alone, but always in combination with a muscle-relaxing and pain-relieving active ingredient. Another area of application is intensive care medicine. Here Propofol fulfils the purpose of a sedative active substance. In contrast to anesthesia, the patient is in a kind of twilight state. This effect is also used in endoscopic examinations, such as gastrointestinal endoscopy.
Effect
Propofol has a calming and anesthetic effect. This property, as well as its rapid onset of action and good controllability due to its short duration of action, make it an ideal anesthetic. It can be applied solely through a vein.
After intravenous application, Propofol reaches the brain with the bloodstream. There it binds to inhibitory receptors (so-called GABA receptors) and activates them, causing an inhibitory effect on nerve cells. During the anaesthetic induction, the loss of consciousness occurs within 10 – 20 seconds and lasts for 8 – 9 minutes with a single administration.
Propofol also has an inhibitory effect on various reflexes, such as the cough or gag reflex. The anesthetic also has a relaxing effect and has a euphoric effect. A sexually disinhibiting and aphrodisiac reaction is also described. These properties explain a possible potential for abuse.
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