Propofol

Pronunciation: PROH-poh-fol.

Generic name
propofol
Brand names
Diprivan (multiple countries)
Drug class
Intravenous general anaesthetic and sedative agent (alkylphenol)
Form
Injectable emulsion (oil-in-water, containing soybean oil and egg phospholipids), 10 mg/mL (1%) and 20 mg/mL (2%) depending on market and product
Route
Intravenous injection or infusion
Legal status
Prescription-only; a hospital/clinic-administered injectable given exclusively by trained anaesthesia or critical-care personnel -- never dispensed for self-administration.

Availability and supply rules vary by country

Trade names by country: United States · United Kingdom · Canada · Australia · New Zealand

Australia: Diprivan / generic propofol (Provive, Propofol-Lipuro) (5) · Full directory

What propofol is and how it works

Propofol is a fast-acting intravenous general anaesthetic and sedative used to induce and maintain general anaesthesia, to provide sedation during procedures, and to sedate patients on a ventilator in intensive care. (1) (2)

Propofol is never a medicine you take yourself. It is given only into a vein by an anaesthetist, an intensive-care clinician, or another healthcare professional specifically trained in general anaesthesia and airway management, in a setting where equipment for supporting your breathing and treating a sudden drop in blood pressure is immediately available. Propofol does not carry a formal FDA "boxed warning" label, but it is a genuinely high-risk medicine: it can cause serious breathing slow-down or a pause in breathing (apnoea), significant drops in blood pressure, and, rarely, a potentially fatal complication called propofol infusion syndrome with prolonged, high-dose use, particularly in critically ill patients. It also must never be used if you have a genuine egg or soy/soya allergy, since the injectable emulsion itself contains egg and soy-derived ingredients.

Mechanism of action: how propofol works

Propofol is an intravenous general anaesthetic thought to produce its sedative/anaesthetic effect through positive modulation of the inhibitory neurotransmitter GABA at GABA-A receptors. It has a rapid onset (loss of consciousness in about 40 seconds, one arm-brain circulation time) and rapid distribution/clearance, chiefly via hepatic conjugation to inactive metabolites excreted by the kidney. (1)

What propofol is used for

General anaesthesia

Used to induce (start) and maintain general anaesthesia for surgery or other procedures. Approved for induction in patients aged 3 years and older, and for maintenance in patients aged 2 months and older in the United States (age thresholds vary slightly by country -- for example, induction from 1 month of age in Australia). (1) (5)

Monitored sedation for procedures

Used to provide sedation for adults undergoing diagnostic or surgical procedures, either alone (monitored anaesthesia care) or together with regional anaesthesia (such as a spinal or epidural block). (1)

Intensive care unit (ICU) sedation

Used to sedate adult patients who are intubated and on a mechanical ventilator in intensive care. Not indicated for ICU sedation in children, since safety has not been established in that setting. (1) (6)

Before taking propofol

Do not take / not appropriate for

  • Propofol is contraindicated in anyone with a known hypersensitivity to propofol or any component of the specific product. (all countries) (1) (2)
  • Propofol is contraindicated in anyone with a history of a serious allergic reaction (anaphylaxis) to eggs, egg products, soybeans, or soy/soya products -- this is a genuine contraindication, not just a caution, because the injectable emulsion itself contains egg phospholipids and soybean oil. (all countries) (1) (2) (5)
  • Propofol is not used for ICU sedation, or for monitored sedation during surgical/diagnostic procedures, in children, since safety has not been established for these specific uses in the pediatric population. (United States, United Kingdom, New Zealand) (1) (2) (6)

Tell your clinician about

  • Any known allergy to eggs, egg products, soybeans, or soy/soya products.
  • Any heart or blood pressure problems, since propofol can cause a significant drop in blood pressure and, rarely, a slow heart rate.
  • Any history of seizures or epilepsy.
  • Any history of disorders affecting fat metabolism (such as high triglycerides), since propofol is a fat-based (lipid) emulsion.
  • All other medicines you take, especially other sedatives, opioids, or other anaesthetic drugs.
  • Pregnancy, plans for pregnancy, or breastfeeding.
  • Any personal or family history of malignant hyperthermia or other anaesthesia-related reactions.
(1) (2)

How to take propofol

  • Propofol is given only by intravenous injection or infusion by a clinician trained in general anaesthesia or critical-care medicine -- it is never self-administered, and it is never given by anyone not specifically trained to manage your airway and breathing.
  • You will be continuously monitored throughout administration for early signs of low blood pressure, slowed or paused breathing, and low blood oxygen, with equipment for supporting your breathing and treating a blood-pressure drop immediately available.
  • Your dose is entirely individualised by the administering clinician, based on your age, weight, health status, and how you respond -- there is no fixed public dose.
  • If propofol is being used for prolonged sedation in an intensive care setting, your care team will monitor you for early signs of propofol infusion syndrome and will manage your infusion rate and duration accordingly.
(1)

Procedures and treatment changes

Tell the treating team before surgery, procedures, or any medicine change. Do not alter treatment without the responsible clinician. (1) (2) (3) (4) (5) (6)

Missed dose

Not applicable -- propofol is administered only by a clinician in a monitored clinical setting for a specific procedure or period of sedation, not on a take-home dosing schedule.

Overdose

Because propofol is given and continuously monitored by trained clinical staff, any concern about too much propofol is recognised and managed immediately by the administering team -- this typically involves stopping the infusion right away, supporting breathing with oxygen and, if needed, artificial ventilation, and treating any drop in blood pressure with fluids or other supportive measures. (1)

Side effects

Side effects and their urgency vary; report severe, persistent, or concerning symptoms.

A drop in blood pressure (hypotension).

What to notice: A drop in blood pressure (hypotension).

What to do: Discuss persistent or troublesome symptoms with the treating clinician or pharmacist. (1) (2)

A pause in breathing (apnoea), especially around induction.

What to notice: A pause in breathing (apnoea), especially around induction.

What to do: Discuss persistent or troublesome symptoms with the treating clinician or pharmacist. (1)

A slower heart rate (bradycardia).

What to notice: A slower heart rate (bradycardia).

What to do: Discuss persistent or troublesome symptoms with the treating clinician or pharmacist. (1) (2)

Pain, stinging, or burning at the injection site.

What to notice: Pain, stinging, or burning at the injection site.

What to do: Discuss persistent or troublesome symptoms with the treating clinician or pharmacist. (1)

Nausea or vomiting after waking from anaesthesia.

What to notice: Nausea or vomiting after waking from anaesthesia.

What to do: Discuss persistent or troublesome symptoms with the treating clinician or pharmacist. (1) (2)

Serious warnings

Breathing slow-down or pause (respiratory depression/apnoea) — emergency

Symptoms: Slowed, shallow, or paused breathing, or low blood oxygen.

Action: This is continuously monitored for and treated immediately by the administering clinical team, who have airway-support equipment and oxygen immediately available -- this is exactly why propofol is only ever given in a setting equipped and staffed for this risk. (1)

Significant drop in blood pressure — emergency

Symptoms: A significant fall in blood pressure, sometimes with a slowed heart rate.

Action: Monitored continuously and treated immediately by the administering team with intravenous fluids, positioning, or medicines to support blood pressure as needed. (1) (2)

Propofol infusion syndrome — emergency

Symptoms: Severe metabolic acidosis, high blood potassium, high blood fats, muscle breakdown (rhabdomyolysis), an enlarged liver, kidney failure, heart rhythm changes, and/or heart failure -- a rare but potentially fatal complication, most linked to prolonged, high-dose infusions (historically described as infusions above about 4 mg/kg/hour for more than 48 hours), particularly in critically ill patients with reduced oxygen delivery, serious neurological injury, sepsis, or high doses of certain other medicines (vasoconstrictors, steroids, or inotropes).

Action: Your care team monitors closely for these warning signs during prolonged infusions and will act immediately, including reassessing the propofol infusion, if they develop. (1) (2)

Serious allergic reaction (anaphylaxis) — emergency

Symptoms: Swelling of the face, lips, tongue, or throat; difficulty breathing; widespread rash, hives, or a sudden severe drop in blood pressure.

Action: This is a real, sometimes fatal risk that the administering team is prepared to treat immediately; tell your care team in advance about any egg, soy, or other known allergies so this risk can be minimised beforehand. (1) (2)

Bloodborne infection risk from unsafe reuse — high caution

Symptoms: Not applicable to patients directly -- this is a real, documented risk when propofol vials are inappropriately accessed more than once or used on more than one person.

Action: Reputable healthcare facilities follow strict single-use, single-patient handling rules for propofol specifically because unsafe reuse has been linked to real outbreaks of bloodborne infections, including Hepatitis B, Hepatitis C, and HIV. (1)

Interactions

  • Opioids, benzodiazepines, and other sedative or CNS-depressant medicines increase propofol's sedative and cardiorespiratory-depressant effects; the administering clinician will adjust the propofol dose accordingly. (1) (2)
  • In children, giving fentanyl together with propofol can cause serious slowing of the heart rate (bradycardia). (1)
  • Valproate (a seizure/mood-stabilising medicine) can increase propofol blood levels, so the administering clinician may use a lower propofol dose and monitor more closely. (1) (2)
  • Rifampicin (an antibiotic) has been linked to profound low blood pressure when combined with propofol anaesthesia. (2)

Pregnancy, breastfeeding, kidney/liver function, age

Pregnancy

Propofol crosses the placenta and may be linked to neonatal depression (reduced alertness or muscle tone) in babies exposed around the time of delivery, so newborns are monitored for this. Decades of data from clinical studies have not identified a clear propofol-associated risk of major birth defects or miscarriage, but UK labelling recommends it only be used in pregnancy when absolutely necessary. This decision is always made by your medical team, weighing the need for anaesthesia or sedation against these considerations. (1) (2) (3) (4) (5) (6)

Breastfeeding

Propofol passes into breast milk. UK labelling recommends avoiding breastfeeding for 24 hours after propofol administration, expressing and discarding milk produced during that period; discuss this with your care team. (1) (2) (3) (4) (5) (6)

Children

Approved for induction of anaesthesia from age 3 (from 1 month in some markets such as Australia) and maintenance of anaesthesia from age 2 months in the United States; not indicated for ICU sedation or procedural/MAC sedation in children, since safety has not been established for those specific uses. (1) (2) (3) (4) (5) (6)

Elderly

Older adults, and people who are debilitated or more medically unwell, generally need a lower induction dose and slower administration, since they are more prone to drops in blood pressure and breathing effects -- your anaesthesia team will adjust for this. (1) (2) (3) (4) (5) (6)

Hepatic_impairment

Available data do not show a significant difference in how propofol is processed in people with chronic liver (hepatic) impairment compared with people with normal liver function, though long-term use in this group has not been specifically studied. (1) (2) (3) (4) (5) (6)

Renal_impairment

Available data do not show a significant difference in how propofol is processed in people with chronic kidney impairment compared with people with normal kidney function, though long-term use in this group has not been specifically studied. (1) (2) (3) (4) (5) (6)

Source_ids

US-FDA-DIPRIVAN-LABEL-2022,UK-EMC-PROPOFOL-2-PERCENT-SMPC-2026 (1) (2) (3) (4) (5) (6)

Monitoring

Before starting

  • Confirmation of any egg, soy, or other allergy history
  • Baseline blood pressure and heart rhythm assessment
  • Review of other sedating medicines and relevant medical history

During treatment

  • Continuous monitoring of breathing, oxygen levels, blood pressure, and heart rhythm throughout administration.
  • For prolonged ICU infusions, monitoring for early signs of propofol infusion syndrome (blood chemistry, muscle enzymes, and clinical status).
  • Daily reassessment of the minimum sedation dose needed during extended ICU use.
(1)

Storage

Store between 2-25 degC (36-77 degF); do not freeze. Propofol is a single-dose, preservative-free product: once a vial is opened, administration must begin promptly and be completed, with any unused product and tubing discarded, within 12 hours -- this is managed entirely by pharmacy and clinical staff, not by patients.

Professional information

Clinician-facing context only, sourced from the current US FDA prescribing information (Aug 2022 revision) and current UK emc SmPC; verify against the current full local label before administration. Propofol does not carry a formal FDA boxed warning, but administration-setting requirements and propofol infusion syndrome should be treated with equivalent clinical seriousness.

United States / New Zealand

Indication: Induction and maintenance of general anaesthesia; MAC and ICU sedation

Dose summary: Strictly individualised and titrated by the administering clinician. Typical adult induction in healthy patients under 65: approximately 2-2.5 mg/kg; elderly/debilitated/ASA-PS III-IV patients: approximately 1-1.5 mg/kg with slower titration. Maintenance infusion and MAC/ICU sedation rates are likewise individualised (commonly in the range of tens to a few hundred mcg/kg/min depending on indication) and adjusted to clinical response; ICU sedation should generally not exceed 4 mg/kg/hour except where benefits outweigh risks, given propofol infusion syndrome risk.

Renal context: No significant pharmacokinetic difference has been observed in chronic renal impairment compared with normal renal function; long-term use in renal failure has not been specifically studied. (1) (6)

Mechanism of action

Hepatic guidance

No significant pharmacokinetic difference has been observed in chronic hepatic cirrhosis compared with normal hepatic function; effects of acute hepatic failure have not been studied.

Overdose note

Overdose is likely to cause cardiorespiratory depression; management is to stop propofol administration immediately, provide artificial ventilation with oxygen, and treat cardiovascular depression with fluids, leg elevation, and pressor or anticholinergic agents as needed. (1)

Frequently asked questions

Does propofol have a boxed warning?

No -- propofol's current US label does not carry a formal FDA boxed warning. However, it is still a genuinely high-risk medicine: it must only be given by clinicians trained in general anaesthesia or critical care, with resuscitation equipment immediately available, because of real risks of breathing pauses, significant drops in blood pressure, and, rarely, a potentially fatal complication called propofol infusion syndrome with prolonged high-dose use. (1)

Can I be given propofol if I have an egg or soy allergy?

No -- a history of a serious allergic reaction (anaphylaxis) to eggs, egg products, soybeans, or soy/soya products is a genuine contraindication to propofol, confirmed in both current US and UK labelling, because the injectable emulsion itself contains egg phospholipids and soybean oil. Always tell your care team about any egg or soy allergy before any procedure. (1) (2)

Can propofol be self-administered at home?

No. Propofol is exclusively a hospital/clinic-administered intravenous medicine given by trained anaesthesia or critical-care personnel, in a setting equipped for continuous monitoring and emergency airway/breathing support. It is never dispensed for self-administration. (1)

What is propofol infusion syndrome?

Propofol infusion syndrome is a rare but potentially fatal complication most linked to prolonged, high-dose propofol infusions, particularly in critically ill patients. It involves severe metabolic acidosis, high blood potassium, muscle breakdown, an enlarged liver, kidney failure, and heart problems. Clinical teams monitor for early warning signs during extended infusions and respond immediately if they appear. (1) (2)

What is the mechanism of action of propofol?

Propofol is an intravenous general anaesthetic thought to produce its sedative/anaesthetic effect through positive modulation of the inhibitory neurotransmitter GABA at GABA-A receptors. It has a rapid onset (loss of consciousness in about 40 seconds, one arm-brain circulation time) and rapid distribution/clearance, chiefly via hepatic conjugation to inactive metabolites excreted by the kidney. (1)

What is the generic name of Propofol?

The generic name is propofol. It is sold under brand names including Diprivan (multiple countries). (1) (2)

What class of drug is propofol?

Propofol is classed as: Intravenous general anaesthetic and sedative agent (alkylphenol). (1) (2)

References

  1. DIPRIVAN (propofol) injectable emulsion -- full prescribing information, Revised 8/2022U.S. Food and Drug Administration -- current full prescribing information (accessdata.fda.gov), Fresenius Kabi / AstraZeneca · United States · dated 2022-08 · accessed 2026-07-30 · source 1
  2. Propofol 20mg/ml (2%) emulsion for injection or infusion -- Summary of Product Characteristicselectronic medicines compendium (emc), United Kingdom -- Aspen Pharma Trading Limited · United Kingdom · accessed 2026-07-30 · source 2
  3. Propofol -- list of nationally authorised medicinal products (PSUSA/00002555/201711)European Medicines Agency (EMA) · European Union · accessed 2026-07-30 · source 3
  4. DIPRIVAN 1% (propofol) Product MonographHealth Canada product monograph, Aspen Pharmacare · Canada · accessed 2026-07-30 · source 4
  5. DIPRIVAN propofol injection -- ARTG registrations (multiple strengths)Therapeutic Goods Administration (TGA), Australia · Australia · accessed 2026-07-30 · source 5
  6. DIPRIVAN New Zealand Data SheetMedsafe (New Zealand regulator) · New Zealand · accessed 2026-07-30 · source 6

Brand names by country

Single-ingredient propofol names are shown separately by country. Product availability, strengths, and supply rules can change; combination products are not included here.

Priority countries

United States

  • Diprivan10 mg/mL · fresenius kabi usa, llc
  • Propofol Injectable Emulsion10 mg/mL · dr. reddy's laboratories, inc.

United Kingdom

  • Propofol 1%/2% emulsion for injection or infusion (2)MHRA licensed emc smpc confirmed · 10 mg/mL (1%), 20 mg/mL (2%) · Aspen Pharma Trading Limited and other licence holders

Canada

  • DIPRIVAN EML IV
  • PROPOFOL-II

Australia

  • Diprivan / generic propofol (Provive, Propofol-Lipuro) (5)TGA ARTG registered confirmed · 10 mg/mL · Aspen Pharmacare Australia Pty Ltd and other generic sponsors

New Zealand

  • Diprivan 1% / Diprivan 2% (6)Medsafe approved confirmed · 10 mg/mL (1%), 20 mg/mL (2%) · Medsafe-approved suppliers
View brands in additional countries.

European Union

Propofol / Diprivan (nationally authorised under various local brand names across EU member states) (3)

This page provides general reference information about propofol, a hospital/clinic-administered-only general anaesthetic, and is not a substitute for advice from the anaesthesia or critical-care team managing your treatment. All administration and dosing decisions are made entirely by trained clinical staff.

Related medicines