etomidate

Etomidate is a short-acting intravenous anesthetic agent primarily used for the induction of general anesthesia and procedural sedation during short operative procedures. It is an imidazole derivative classified as a non-barbiturate hypnotic. Etomidate acts mainly by potentiating gamma-aminobutyric acid (GABA) type A receptors in the central nervous system, increasing chloride ion conduction and causing neuronal hyperpolarization, which leads to depression of the reticular activating system and loss of consciousness. It has minimal effects on cardiovascular and respiratory systems compared to other intravenous anesthetics, making it particularly useful in patients with compromised cardiopulmonary function. Etomidate does not provide analgesia. Its onset is rapid due to high lipid solubility, with effects lasting 3–8 minutes after a single dose. The drug was developed by Janssen Pharmaceutica in 1964 and introduced clinically in Europe in 1972 and the United States in 1983.

Brand names

AmidateHypnomidateTomvi

Other names

Etomidate lipid emulsionEtomidate-Lipuro