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Vial $7.42

Etomidate

Editor: Updated Class:

ADMINISTRATION ROUTES:

IV

ALTERNATIVE NAMES:

Etomidate

ICU INDICATIONS:

  1. Induction of anaesthesia (particularly in the hypotensive patient)

PRESENTATION AND ADMINISTRATION:

IV:

20 mg in 10 mL vial

Inject undiluted by slow IV injection

Store at room temperature

DOSAGE:

IV:

0.3 mg/kg slow IV push

DOSAGE IN RENAL FAILURE AND RENAL REPLACEMENT THERAPY:

Dose as in normal renal function

DOSAGE IN PAEDIATRICS:

IV:

0.3 mg/kg slow IV push

CLINICAL PHARMACOLOGY:

Etomidate is a hypnotic drug without analgesic activity. Intravenous injection of etomidate produces hypnosis characterised by a rapid onset of action, usually within 1 minute. Duration of hypnosis is dose dependent but relatively brief, usually 3-5 minutes when an average dose of 0.3 mg/kg is employed. Reduced cortisol plasma levels have been reported with induction doses of 0.3 mg/kg. These persist for approximately 6-8 hours and appear to be unresponsive to ACTH

CONTRAINDICATIONS:

  1. Hypersensitivity to etomidate

WARNINGS:

Because of the hazards of prolonged suppression of endogenous cortisol and aldosterone production , etomidate should NOT be administered by prolonged infusion

PRECAUTIONS:

General:

See WARNINGS

Laboratory Tests:

No tests additional to routine ICU tests are required

Drug/Laboratory Test Interactions:

None of note

IMPORTANT DRUG INTERACTIONS IN ICU:

None of note

ADVERSE REACTIONS:

Body as a Whole:

Anaphylaxis, adrenal suppression

Central Nervous System:

Myoclonus

Cardiovascular System:

Hypertension, hypotension, tachycardia, bradycardia and other arrhythmias have occasionally been observed during induction and maintenance of anaesthesia

Respiratory System:

Hyperventilation, hypoventilation, apnoea of short duration (5-90 seconds with spontaneous recovery), laryngospasm, hiccup and snoring suggestive of partial upper airway obstruction have been observed in some patients

Gastrointestinal System:

Nausea and vomiting