Etomidate
Etomidate (Amidate)
Etomidate
(eh- TOM-ih-dayt)
Pregnancy Category: C Amidate (Rx)

Classification: General anesthetic and adjunct to general anesthesia

Action/Kinetics: Is a hypnotic with no analgesic activity. Appears to act like GABA and is thought to exert its mechanism by depressing the activity of the brain stem reticular system. Minimal CV and respiratory depressant effects. Onset: 1 min. Duration: 3-5 min. t 1/2: 75 min. Rapidly metabolized in the liver with inactive metabolites excreted mainly through the urine.

Uses: Induction of general anesthesia. As a supplement to nitrous oxide during short surgical procedures. Investigational: Prolonged sedation of critically ill or ventilator-dependent clients (is an increased risk of acute insufficiency and mortality).

Special Concerns: Use with caution during lactation. Safety and efficacy have not been established in children less than 10 years of age.

Side Effects: Skeletal muscle: Myoclonic skeletal muscle movements, tonic movements. Respiratory: Apnea of short duration, hyperventilation or hypoventilation, laryngospasm. CV: Either hypertension or hypotension; tachycardia or bradycardia; arrhythmias. GI: Postoperative N&V. Miscellaneous: Eye movements, averting movements, hiccoughs, snoring.

How Supplied: Injection: 2 mg/mL

Dosage
?IV Only Induction of anesthesia.
Adults and children over 10 years of age: 0.2-0.6 mg/kg (usual: 0.3 mg/kg) injected over 30-60 sec.