Drug Groups

approved

Description

An inhalation anesthetic. Currently, methoxyflurane is rarely used for surgical, obstetric, or dental anesthesia. If so employed, it should be administered with nitrous oxide to achieve a relatively light level of anesthesia, and a neuromuscular blocking agent given concurrently to obtain the desired degree of muscular relaxation. (From AMA Drug Evaluations Annual, 1994, p180)

Indication

For use in the induction and maintenance of general anesthesia

Pharmacology

Methoxyflurane is a general inhalation anesthetic used for induction and maintenance of general anesthesia. It induces muscle relaxation and reduces pains sensitivity by altering tissue excitability. It does so by decreasing the extent of gap junction mediated cell-cell coupling and altering the activity of the channels that underlie the action potential.

Toxicity

LD₅₀=3600 mg/kg (Orally in rats). Symptoms of overexposure include eye irritation, CNS depression, analgesia, anesthesia, seizures, respiratory depression, and liver and kidney damage.

Affected Organisms

Biotransformation

Hepatic.

External Links