Desflurane (Inhalation route)
Uses of This Medicine:
Desflurane belongs to the group of medicines known as general anesthetics. Desflurane is used to cause general anesthesia (loss of consciousness) before and during surgery. It is breathed in (inhaled). Although desflurane can be used by itself, combinations of anesthetics are often used together. This helps produce more effective anesthesia in some patients.
General anesthetics are given only by or under the immediate supervision of a medical doctor trained to use them. If you will be receiving a general anesthetic during surgery, your doctor will give you the medicine and closely follow your progress.
Before Using This Medicine:
In deciding to use a medicine, the risks of taking the medicine must be weighed against the good it will do. This is a decision you and your doctor will make. For this medicine, the following should be considered:
Tell your doctor if you have ever had any unusual or allergic reaction to this medicine or any other medicines. Also tell your health care professional if you have any other types of allergies, such as to foods, dyes, preservatives, or animals. For non-prescription products, read the label or package ingredients carefully.
Desflurane has been tested in children. It is not used to start anesthesia in children who are awake because it causes irritation and other unwanted effects. However, when it is used to continue general anesthesia that has been started with another anesthetic, desflurane does not cause different side effects or problems in children than it does in adults.
Desflurane has been tested and has not been shown to cause different side effects or problems in older people than it does in younger adults. However, older people usually need smaller amounts of an anesthetic than younger people. Your doctor will take your age into account when deciding on the right amount of desflurane for you.
|All Trimesters||B||Animal studies have revealed no evidence of harm to the fetus, however, there are no adequate studies in pregnant women OR animal studies have shown an adverse effect, but adequate studies in pregnant women have failed to demonstrate a risk to the fetus.|
There are no adequate studies in women for determining infant risk when using this medication during breastfeeding. Weigh the potential benefits against the potential risks before taking this medication while breastfeeding.
Although certain medicines should not be used together at all, in other cases two different medicines may be used together even if an interaction might occur. In these cases, your doctor may want to change the dose, or other precautions may be necessary. When you are receiving this medicine, it is especially important that your healthcare professional know if you are taking any of the medicines listed below. The following interactions have been selected on the basis of their potential significance and are not necessarily all-inclusive.
Using this medicine with any of the following medicines is usually not recommended, but may be required in some cases. If both medicines are prescribed together, your doctor may change the dose or how often you use one or both of the medicines.
- Nitrous Oxide
- St John's Wort
Certain medicines should not be used at or around the time of eating food or eating certain types of food since interactions may occur. Using alcohol or tobacco with certain medicines may also cause interactions to occur. Discuss with your healthcare professional the use of your medicine with food, alcohol, or tobacco.
Other medical problems—
The presence of other medical problems may affect the use of this medicine. Make sure you tell your doctor if you have any other medical problems, especially:
The presence of other medical problems may affect the use of desflurane. Make sure you tell your doctor if you have any other medical problems, especially:
- Diseases that can cause muscle weakness, such as familial periodic paralysis, muscular dystrophy, myasthenia gravis, or Eaton-Lambert syndrome, or
- Heart or blood vessel disease—The chance of side effects may be increased, but serious problems can be prevented if your doctor knows that these conditions are present before giving you an anesthetic
- Malignant hyperthermia, during or shortly after receiving an anesthetic (history of, or family history of). Signs of malignant hyperthermia include very high fever, fast and irregular heartbeat, muscle spasms or tightness, and breathing problems—This side effect may occur again
Proper Use of This Medicine:
The dose of this medicine will be different for different patients. Follow your doctor's orders or the directions on the label. The following information includes only the average doses of this medicine. If your dose is different, do not change it unless your doctor tells you to do so.
The amount of medicine that you take depends on the strength of the medicine. Also, the number of doses you take each day, the time allowed between doses, and the length of time you take the medicine depend on the medical problem for which you are using the medicine.
- Your age.
- Your general physical condition.
- The kind of surgery being performed.
- Other medicines you are taking or will receive before and during surgery.
Precautions While Using This Medicine:
For patients going home within 24 hours after receiving a general anesthetic:
- General anesthetics may cause some people to feel drowsy, tired, or weak for a while after they have been given. They may also cause problems with coordination and one's ability to think. Therefore, for about 24 hours (or longer if necessary) after receiving a general anesthetic, do not drive, use machines, or do anything else that could be dangerous if you are not alert.
- Unless otherwise directed by your doctor or dentist, do not drink alcoholic beverages or take other CNS depressants (medicines that slow down the nervous system, possibly causing drowsiness) for about 24 hours after you have received a general anesthetic. To do so may add to the effects of the anesthetic. Some examples of CNS depressants are antihistamines or medicine for hay fever, other allergies, or colds; other sedatives, tranquilizers, or sleeping medicine; prescription pain medicine or narcotics; barbiturates; medicine for seizures; and muscle relaxants.
Side Effects of This Medicine:
- More common
- nausea or vomiting
- Less common or rare
- irritated or red eyes
- nervousness and restlessness
- sore throat
Along with its needed effects, a medicine may cause some unwanted effects. Although not all of these side effects may occur, if they do occur they may need medical attention.
Some side effects may occur that usually do not need medical attention. These side effects may go away during treatment as your body adjusts to the medicine. Also, your health care professional may be able to tell you about ways to prevent or reduce some of these side effects. Check with your health care professional if any of the following side effects continue or are bothersome or if you have any questions about them:
Other side effects not listed may also occur in some patients. If you notice any other effects, check with your healthcare professional.
Call your doctor for medical advice about side effects. You may report side effects to the FDA at 1-800-FDA-1088.
Last Updated: 11/4/2014