Propofol 500mg/50ml emulsion for infusion ampoules
Propofol is an intravenous anaesthetic agent used for induction and maintenance of general anaesthesia.
Official documents, adverse reaction reporting, and safety monitoring
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Official medicine documents
Safety monitoring data
Yellow Card reports
The MHRA Yellow Card scheme collects reports of suspected side effects from healthcare professionals and patients. View the Drug Analysis Profile (iDAP) for real-world adverse reaction data.
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Suspected adverse reactions reported for Propofol
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Report a side effect
Submit a Yellow Card report to the MHRA
Data from the MHRA Yellow Card scheme. A reported reaction does not necessarily mean the medicine caused it. Contains public sector information licensed under the Open Government Licence v3.0.
EudraVigilance
The European Medicines Agency (EMA) collects suspected adverse reaction reports from across the EU/EEA through the EudraVigilance system. Search for safety data on this medicine.
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Suspected adverse reactions reported for Propofol
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Learn about EU pharmacovigilance and safety monitoring
EudraVigilance data is published by the European Medicines Agency (EMA). A suspected adverse reaction is not necessarily caused by the medicine.
1 branded products available
Therapeutically similar medicines
Similarity based on WHO Anatomical Therapeutic Chemical (ATC) classification and NHS BNF section grouping. Source data: NHS dm+d via TRUD (OGL v3.0), WHO ATC/DDD Index.
NHS prescribing volume and spending trends
Clinical guidelines and formulary information
British National Formulary
Propofol
Source: British National Formulary, NICE. Joint Formulary Committee. Contains public sector information licensed under the Open Government Licence v3.0.
NICE clinical guidance(7)
Sedation in under 19s: using sedation for diagnostic and therapeutic procedures (CG112)
Desflurane for maintenance of anaesthesia (ES41)
Sedaconda ACD-S for sedation with volatile anaesthetics in intensive care (HTG607)
Depth of anaesthesia monitors – Bispectral Index (BIS), E-Entropy and Narcotrend-Compact M (HTG292)
Specialist neonatal respiratory care for babies born preterm (NG124)
Abortion care (NG140)
End-tidal Control software for use with Aisys closed circuit anaesthesia systems for automated gas control during general anaesthesia (MIB10)
Source: National Institute for Health and Care Excellence (NICE). Contains public sector information licensed under the Open Government Licence v3.0.
Check stock at pharmacies and supply information
Pharmacy stock checkers
Search for this medicine at major UK pharmacy chains. These links open the retailer's own website — results depend on their current online catalogue.
Supply & product information
Official product databases and supply status monitoring
Pharmacy links redirect to the retailer's own search and do not represent real-time stock levels. emc (electronic medicines compendium) is operated by Datapharm Ltd. Shortage information sourced from NHS Specialist Pharmacy Service (SPS), sps.nhs.uk.
Codes for healthcare professionals and prescribing systems
These codes are used by healthcare IT systems and prescribers to identify this medicine.
NHS UK identifiers
Browse tools
SNOMED CT and dm+d codes from NHS TRUD (Technology Reference data Update Distribution), licensed under the Open Government Licence v3.0. BNF codes from NHS Business Services Authority (NHSBSA). ATC codes from the WHO Collaborating Centre for Drug Statistics Methodology (whocc.no).
Active and completed clinical studies from ClinicalTrials.gov
Source: ClinicalTrials.gov, a database of the U.S. National Library of Medicine (NLM), National Institutes of Health (NIH). Data accessed via ClinicalTrials.gov API v2. Trial information is provided for research purposes and does not constitute medical advice.
Pharmacology and chemical data from DrugBank
Key facts
Drug status
Approved
Major interactions
76 found
Half-life
1.8-9.5 minutes
Mechanism
The action of propofol involves a positive modulation of the inhibitory function…
Food interactions
None known
Human targets
5 targets
Data: DrugBank · CC BY-NC 4.0
Pharmacokinetics at a glance
Absorption
15-30 seconds
Half-life
1.8-9.5 minutes
Protein binding
95 to 99%
Volume of distribution
60 L/kg
Metabolism
Elimination
Clearance
23 - 50 mL
* 1.6 - 3.4 L/min [70 Kg adults]
Pharmacokinetic data: DrugBank · CC BY-NC 4.0
Known interactions with other medications. Always consult a healthcare professional.
Showing 50 of 1745 interactions
IV LD50=53 mg/kg (mice), 42 mg/kg (rats). Oral LD50 (as a solution in soybean oil)=1230 mg/kg (mice), 600 mg/kg (rats)
How the body processes this drug — absorption, distribution, metabolism, and elimination
* 1.6 - 3.4 L/min [70 Kg adults]
Proteins and enzymes this drug interacts with in the body
PMID:19763268 PMID:27789573 PMID:29950725 PMID:8264558
GABA-gated chloride channels, also named GABA(A) receptors (GABAAR), consist of five subunits arranged around a central pore and contain GABA active binding site(s) located at the alpha and beta subunit interface(s) .
PMID:29950725
When activated by GABA, GABAARs selectively allow the flow of chloride anions across the cell membrane down their electrochemical gradient (By similarity). Chloride influx into the postsynaptic neuron following GABAAR opening decreases the neuron ability to generate a new action potential, thereby reducing nerve transmission (By similarity). GABAARs containing alpha-1 and beta-2 or -3 subunits exhibit synaptogenic activity; the gamma-2 subunit being necessary but not sufficient to induce rapid synaptic contacts formation .
PMID:23909897 PMID:25489750
Extrasynaptic beta-2 receptors contribute to the tonic GABAergic inhibition (By similarity).
Beta-containing GABAARs can simultaneously bind GABA and histamine where histamine binds at the interface of two neighboring beta subunits, which may be involved in the regulation of sleep and wakefulness (By similarity)
PMID:14993607 PMID:18514161 PMID:22243422 PMID:22303015 PMID:24909990 PMID:26950270 PMID:30602789
GABA-gated chloride channels, also named GABA(A) receptors (GABAAR), consist of five subunits arranged around a central pore and contain GABA active binding site(s) located at the alpha and beta subunit interface(s) .
PMID:24909990 PMID:30140029 PMID:30602789
GABAARs containing beta-3/GABRB3 subunit are found at both synaptic and extrasynaptic sites (By similarity). When activated by GABA, GABAARs selectively allow the flow of chloride anions across the cell membrane down their electrochemical gradient .
PMID:14993607 PMID:22303015 PMID:26950270 PMID:30602789
Chloride influx into the postsynaptic neuron following GABAAR opening decreases the neuron ability to generate a new action potential, thereby reducing nerve transmission .
PMID:22303015 PMID:26950270
GABAARs containing alpha-1 and beta-3 subunits exhibit synaptogenic activity; the gamma-2 subunit being necessary but not sufficient to induce rapid synaptic contacts formation .
PMID:25489750
Extrasynaptic beta-3 receptors contribute to the tonic GABAergic inhibition (By similarity). GABAARs containing alpha-1, beta-3 and epsilon subunits may also permit spontaneous chloride channel activity while preserving the structural information required for GABA-gated openings (By similarity).
Beta-containing GABAARs can simultaneously bind GABA and histamine where histamine binds at the interface of two neighboring beta subunits, which may be involved in the regulation of sleep and wakefulness .
PMID:18281286 PMID:24909990 PMID:35355020
Plays an important role in somatosensation and in the production of antinociception (By similarity)
PMID:10449790 PMID:16412217
GABA-gated chloride channels, also named GABA(A) receptors (GABAAR), consist of five subunits arranged around a central pore and contain GABA active binding site(s) located at the alpha and beta subunit interfaces (By similarity). When activated by GABA, GABAARs selectively allow the flow of chloride anions across the cell membrane down their electrochemical gradient PMID:10449790 PMID:16412217
The influx of Na+ ions provokes membrane depolarization, initiating the propagation of electrical signals throughout cells and tissues .
PMID:12766226 PMID:15318338 PMID:16890191 PMID:17898326 PMID:18690054 PMID:19347921 PMID:25707578 PMID:26659129 PMID:26700687 PMID:29992740 PMID:30190309
Highly expressed in skeletal muscles, Nav1.4 generates the action potential crucial for muscle contraction PMID:16890191 PMID:19347921 PMID:25707578 PMID:26659129 PMID:26700687
PMID:1325650 PMID:17021166 PMID:28256214 PMID:29844171
Implicated in the regulation of hippocampal replay occurring within sharp wave ripples (SPW-R) important for memory (By similarity)
Enzymes involved in drug metabolism — important for understanding drug interactions
Proteins that transport this drug across cell membranes
PMID:2897240 PMID:35970996 PMID:8898203 PMID:9038218 PMID:35507548
Catalyzes the flop of phospholipids from the cytoplasmic to the exoplasmic leaflet of the apical membrane. Participates mainly to the flop of phosphatidylcholine, phosphatidylethanolamine, beta-D-glucosylceramides and sphingomyelins .
PMID:8898203
Energy-dependent efflux pump responsible for decreased drug accumulation in multidrug-resistant cells PMID:2897240 PMID:35970996 PMID:9038218
Proteins that carry this drug through the body
PMID:19021548
Major calcium and magnesium transporter in plasma, binds approximately 45% of circulating calcium and magnesium in plasma (By similarity).
Potentially has more than two calcium-binding sites and might additionally bind calcium in a non-specific manner (By similarity). The shared binding site between zinc and calcium at residue Asp-273 suggests a crosstalk between zinc and calcium transport in the blood (By similarity). The rank order of affinity is zinc > calcium > magnesium (By similarity).
Binds to the bacterial siderophore enterobactin and inhibits enterobactin-mediated iron uptake of E.coli from ferric transferrin, and may thereby limit the utilization of iron and growth of enteric bacteria such as E.coli .
PMID:6234017
Does not prevent iron uptake by the bacterial siderophore aerobactin PMID:6234017
ATC N01AX10
Chemical identifiers
CAS, UNII, InChI Key and database cross-references
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Chemical identifiers
CAS, UNII, InChI Key and database cross-references
Linked compound data from DrugBank Open Data (CC BY-NC 4.0)
Propofol
Additional database identifiers
Drugs Product Database (DPD)
8209
ChemSpider
4774
BindingDB
50058046
PDB
PFL
ZINC
ZINC000000968303
HUGO Gene Nomenclature Committee (HGNC)
HGNC:4082
GenAtlas
GABRB2
GeneCards
GABRB2
GenBank Gene Database
S67368
GenBank Protein Database
455946
UniProt Accession
GBRB2_HUMAN
HUGO Gene Nomenclature Committee (HGNC)
HGNC:4083
GenAtlas
GABRB3
GeneCards
GABRB3
GenBank Gene Database
M82919
GenBank Protein Database
182925
Guide to Pharmacology
412
UniProt Accession
GBRB3_HUMAN
HUGO Gene Nomenclature Committee (HGNC)
HGNC:4075
GenAtlas
GABRA1
GeneCards
GABRA1
GenBank Gene Database
X13584
GenBank Protein Database
31631
Guide to Pharmacology
404
UniProt Accession
GBRA1_HUMAN
HUGO Gene Nomenclature Committee (HGNC)
HGNC:4076
GenAtlas
GABRA2
GeneCards
GABRA2
GenBank Gene Database
S62907
GenBank Protein Database
386422
Guide to Pharmacology
405
UniProt Accession
GBRA2_HUMAN
HUGO Gene Nomenclature Committee (HGNC)
HGNC:4077
GenAtlas
GABRA3
GeneCards
GABRA3
GenBank Gene Database
S62908
GenBank Protein Database
386424
Guide to Pharmacology
406
UniProt Accession
GBRA3_HUMAN
HUGO Gene Nomenclature Committee (HGNC)
HGNC:4078
GenAtlas
GABRA4
GeneCards
GABRA4
GenBank Gene Database
U30461
GenBank Protein Database
905393
Guide to Pharmacology
407
UniProt Accession
GBRA4_HUMAN
HUGO Gene Nomenclature Committee (HGNC)
HGNC:4079
GenAtlas
GABRA5
GeneCards
GABRA5
GenBank Gene Database
L08485
GenBank Protein Database
182916
Guide to Pharmacology
408
UniProt Accession
GBRA5_HUMAN
HUGO Gene Nomenclature Committee (HGNC)
HGNC:4080
GenAtlas
GABRA6
GeneCards
GABRA6
GenBank Gene Database
S81944
GenBank Protein Database
1470364
Guide to Pharmacology
409
UniProt Accession
GBRA6_HUMAN
HUGO Gene Nomenclature Committee (HGNC)
HGNC:4081
GenAtlas
GABRB1
GeneCards
GABRB1
GenBank Gene Database
X14767
GenBank Protein Database
31635
UniProt Accession
GBRB1_HUMAN
HUGO Gene Nomenclature Committee (HGNC)
HGNC:4082
GenAtlas
GABRB2
GeneCards
GABRB2
GenBank Gene Database
S67368
GenBank Protein Database
455946
UniProt Accession
GBRB2_HUMAN
HUGO Gene Nomenclature Committee (HGNC)
HGNC:4083
GenAtlas
GABRB3
GeneCards
GABRB3
GenBank Gene Database
M82919
GenBank Protein Database
182925
Guide to Pharmacology
412
UniProt Accession
GBRB3_HUMAN
HUGO Gene Nomenclature Committee (HGNC)
HGNC:4084
GeneCards
GABRD
GenBank Gene Database
AF016917
GenBank Protein Database
2388693
UniProt Accession
GBRD_HUMAN
HUGO Gene Nomenclature Committee (HGNC)
HGNC:4085
GeneCards
GABRE
GenBank Gene Database
U66661
GenBank Protein Database
1857126
UniProt Accession
GBRE_HUMAN
HUGO Gene Nomenclature Committee (HGNC)
HGNC:4086
GeneCards
GABRG1
GenBank Gene Database
AK122845
GenBank Protein Database
193783776
UniProt Accession
GBRG1_HUMAN
HUGO Gene Nomenclature Committee (HGNC)
HGNC:4087
GeneCards
GABRG2
GenBank Gene Database
X15376
GenBank Protein Database
31637
UniProt Accession
GBRG2_HUMAN
HUGO Gene Nomenclature Committee (HGNC)
HGNC:4088
GeneCards
GABRG3
GenBank Gene Database
S82769
GenBank Protein Database
1754749
UniProt Accession
GBRG3_HUMAN
HUGO Gene Nomenclature Committee (HGNC)
HGNC:4089
GeneCards
GABRP
GenBank Gene Database
U95367
GenBank Protein Database
2197001
UniProt Accession
GBRP_HUMAN
HUGO Gene Nomenclature Committee (HGNC)
HGNC:14454
GeneCards
GABRQ
GenBank Gene Database
AF189259
GenBank Protein Database
7861736
UniProt Accession
GBRT_HUMAN
HUGO Gene Nomenclature Committee (HGNC)
HGNC:10591
GenAtlas
SCN4A
GeneCards
SCN4A
GenBank Gene Database
M81758
GenBank Protein Database
338213
Guide to Pharmacology
581
UniProt Accession
SCN4A_HUMAN
HUGO Gene Nomenclature Committee (HGNC)
HGNC:10588
GenAtlas
SCN2A
GeneCards
SCN2A
GenBank Gene Database
M94055
GenBank Protein Database
457879
Guide to Pharmacology
579
UniProt Accession
SCN2A_HUMAN
HUGO Gene Nomenclature Committee (HGNC)
HGNC:2623
GenAtlas
CYP2C9
GeneCards
CYP2C9
GenBank Gene Database
AY341248
Guide to Pharmacology
1326
UniProt Accession
CP2C9_HUMAN
HUGO Gene Nomenclature Committee (HGNC)
HGNC:2615
GeneCards
CYP2B6
GenBank Gene Database
M29874
GenBank Protein Database
181296
Guide to Pharmacology
1324
UniProt Accession
CP2B6_HUMAN
HUGO Gene Nomenclature Committee (HGNC)
HGNC:12540
GeneCards
UGT1A8
GenBank Gene Database
AF030310
GenBank Protein Database
2613044
UniProt Accession
UD18_HUMAN
HUGO Gene Nomenclature Committee (HGNC)
HGNC:12541
GeneCards
UGT1A9
GenBank Gene Database
S55985
GenBank Protein Database
7690346
UniProt Accession
UD19_HUMAN
HUGO Gene Nomenclature Committee (HGNC)
HGNC:12530
GeneCards
UGT1A1
GenBank Gene Database
M57899
GenBank Protein Database
184473
Guide to Pharmacology
2990
UniProt Accession
UD11_HUMAN
HUGO Gene Nomenclature Committee (HGNC)
HGNC:3553
GenAtlas
FAAH
GeneCards
FAAH
GenBank Gene Database
U82535
GenBank Protein Database
2149156
Guide to Pharmacology
1400
UniProt Accession
FAAH1_HUMAN
HUGO Gene Nomenclature Committee (HGNC)
HGNC:2631
GeneCards
CYP2E1
GenBank Gene Database
J02625
GenBank Protein Database
181360
Guide to Pharmacology
1330
UniProt Accession
CP2E1_HUMAN
HUGO Gene Nomenclature Committee (HGNC)
HGNC:2597
GenAtlas
CYP1B1
GeneCards
CYP1B1
GenBank Gene Database
U03688
GenBank Protein Database
501031
Guide to Pharmacology
1320
UniProt Accession
CP1B1_HUMAN
HUGO Gene Nomenclature Committee (HGNC)
HGNC:2595
GeneCards
CYP1A1
GenBank Gene Database
K03191
GenBank Protein Database
181276
Guide to Pharmacology
1318
UniProt Accession
CP1A1_HUMAN
HUGO Gene Nomenclature Committee (HGNC)
HGNC:2596
GenAtlas
CYP1A2
GeneCards
CYP1A2
GenBank Gene Database
Z00036
Guide to Pharmacology
1319
UniProt Accession
CP1A2_HUMAN
HUGO Gene Nomenclature Committee (HGNC)
HGNC:2620
GeneCards
CYP2C18
GenBank Gene Database
M61853
Guide to Pharmacology
1327
UniProt Accession
CP2CI_HUMAN
HUGO Gene Nomenclature Committee (HGNC)
HGNC:2621
GeneCards
CYP2C19
GenBank Gene Database
M61854
GenBank Protein Database
181344
Guide to Pharmacology
1328
UniProt Accession
CP2CJ_HUMAN
HUGO Gene Nomenclature Committee (HGNC)
HGNC:2622
GenAtlas
CYP2C8
GeneCards
CYP2C8
GenBank Gene Database
M17397
Guide to Pharmacology
1325
UniProt Accession
CP2C8_HUMAN
HUGO Gene Nomenclature Committee (HGNC)
HGNC:12538
GeneCards
UGT1A6
UniProt Accession
UD16_HUMAN
HUGO Gene Nomenclature Committee (HGNC)
HGNC:399
GenAtlas
ALB
GeneCards
ALB
GenBank Gene Database
V00494
GenBank Protein Database
28590
UniProt Accession
ALBU_HUMAN
HUGO Gene Nomenclature Committee (HGNC)
HGNC:40
GenAtlas
ABCB1
GeneCards
ABCB1
GenBank Gene Database
M14758
GenBank Protein Database
307180
Guide to Pharmacology
768
UniProt Accession
MDR1_HUMAN
International reference pricing
Reference pricing from DrugBank. Prices are indicative and may not reflect current UK costs.
Source: DrugBank. Used under CC BY-NC 4.0 academic licence for non-commercial purposes.
Patent information
All patents expired, 6 expired
Source: DrugBank · CC BY-NC 4.0. Patent data sourced from national patent offices. Expiry dates may not reflect extensions, regulatory exclusivity periods, or legal challenges.
DrugBank citations
If you use DrugBank data in your research, please cite the following publications: