Propofol

The Basics

What is Propofol?

Used as an induction agent and in lower doses it is also used for conscious sedation on an outpatient basis.

Brand names for Propofol

Diprivan

How Propofol is classified

Anesthetics – Intravenous, Hypnotics and Sedatives

Propofol During Pregnancy

Propofol pregnancy category

Category BNote that the FDA has deprecated the use of pregnancy categories, so for some medications, this information isn’t available. We still think it’s useful to list historical info, however, given what a common proxy this has been in the past.

What we know about taking Propofol while pregnant

Teratogenic Effects РPregnancy Category B Reproduction studies have been performed in rats and rabbits at intravenous doses of 15 mg/kg/day (approximately equivalent to the recommended human induction dose on a mg/m² basis) and have revealed no evidence of impaired fertility or harm to the fetus due to propofol. Propofol, however, has been shown to cause maternal deaths in rats and rabbits and decreased pup survival during the lactating period in dams treated with 15 mg/kg/day (approximately equivalent to the recommended human induction dose on a mg/m² basis). The pharmacological activity (anesthesia) of the drug on the mother is probably responsible for the adverse effects seen in the offspring. There are, however, no adequate and well-controlled studies in pregnant women. Because animal reproduction studies are not always predictive of human responses, DIPRIVAN Injectable Emulsion should be used during pregnancy only if clearly needed.

Taking Propofol While Breastfeeding

What are recommendations for lactation if you're taking Propofol?

Amounts of propofol in milk are very small and are not expected to be absorbed by the infant. Although one expert panel recommends withholding nursing for an unspecified time after propofol administration,[1] most recommend that breastfeeding can be resumed as soon as the mother has recovered sufficiently from general anesthesia to nurse and that discarding milk is unnecessary.[2][3][4] When a combination of anesthetic agents is used for a procedure, follow the recommendations for the most problematic medication used during the procedure. General anesthesia for cesarean section using propofol as a component for induction may delay the onset of lactation. In one study, breastfeeding before general anesthesia induction reduced requirements of propofol and sevoflurane compared to those of nursing mothers whose breastfeeding was withheld or nonnursing women.[5] Two case reports noted green discoloration of breastmilk after nursing mothers received propofol.

Maternal / infant drug levels

Amounts of propofol in milk are very small and are not expected to be absorbed by the infant. Although one expert panel recommends withholding nursing for an unspecified time after propofol administration,[1] most recommend that breastfeeding can be resumed as soon as the mother has recovered sufficiently from general anesthesia to nurse and that discarding milk is unnecessary.[2][3][4] When a combination of anesthetic agents is used for a procedure, follow the recommendations for the most problematic medication used during the procedure. General anesthesia for cesarean section using propofol as a component for induction may delay the onset of lactation. In one study, breastfeeding before general anesthesia induction reduced requirements of propofol and sevoflurane compared to those of nursing mothers whose breastfeeding was withheld or nonnursing women.[5] Two case reports noted green discoloration of breastmilk after nursing mothers received propofol.

Possible effects of Propofol on milk supply

A woman underwent emergency laparoscopic surgery using propofol as well as fentanyl, remifentanil, mivacurium, and dipyrone during the surgery and metamizole, piritramide, dipyrone, butylscopolamine, and metoclopramide postoperatively. Eight hours postoperatively, her milk turned bluish green, then green. Both propofol and metoclopramide have caused green urine. Thirty hours after the milk color change, propofol but not metoclopramide, was detected in milk.[7]

A randomized study compared the effects of cesarean section using general anesthesia, spinal anesthesia, or epidural anesthesia, to normal vaginal delivery on serum prolactin and oxytocin as well as time to initiation of lactation. General anesthesia was performed using propofol 2 mg/kg and rocuronium 0.6 mg/kg for induction, followed by sevoflurane and rocuronium 0.15 mg/kg as needed. Fentanyl 1 to 1.5 mcg/kg was administered after delivery. Patients in the general anesthesia group (n = 21) had higher post-procedure prolactin levels and a longer mean time to lactation initiation (25 hours) than in the other groups (10.8 to 11.8 hours). Postpartum oxytocin levels in the nonmedicated vaginal delivery group were higher than in the general and spinal anesthesia groups.[9]

A randomized, double-blind study compared the effects of intravenous propofol 0.25 mg/kg, ketamine 0.25 mg/kg, ketamine 25 mg plus propofol 25 mg, and saline placebo for pain control in mothers post-cesarean section in mothers post-cesarean section. A single dose was given immediately after clamping of the umbilical cord. The time to the first breastfeeding was 58 minutes in those who received placebo, 42.6 minutes with propofol and 25.8 minutes with propofol plus ketamine. The time was significantly shorter than the other groups with the combination.[10]

A retrospective study of women in a Turkish hospital who underwent elective cesarean section deliveries compared women who received bupivacaine spinal anesthesia (n = 170) to women who received general anesthesia (n = 78) with propofol for induction, sevoflurane for maintenance and fentanyl after delivery. No differences in breastfeeding rates were seen between the groups at 1 hour and 24 hours postpartum. However, at 6 months postpartum, 67% of women in the general anesthesia group were still breastfeeding compared to 81% in the spinal anesthesia group, which was a statistically significant difference.[11]

A woman nursing an 8-month-old infant 6 to 8 times daily was admitted to the hospital for an appendectomy. During the procedure she received cefazolin, granisetron, ketorolac, rocuronium, succinylcholine, and sufentanil. The patient also received 2 boluses of intravenous propofol of 150 mg followed shortly thereafter by a 50 mg dose. Postoperatively, she was receiving acetaminophen, cefazolin, ibuprofen, and pantoprazole, as well as oxycodone and dimenhydrinate as needed. Twenty-two hours after the procedure, the mother extracted milk for the first time and noted it to be light green in color. Analysis of the green milk using a nonvalidated assay detected no propofol. The green color faded and was absent by postoperative day 4 when she resumed breastfeeding. The authors judged that the green color was possibly caused by propofol or one of its metabolites.[12]

Possible alternatives to Propofol

Dexmedetomidine, Etomidate, Methohexital, Midazolam, Thiopental.