Desflurane

The Basics

What is Desflurane?

Induction or maintenance of anesthesia.

Brand names for Desflurane

Suprane

How Desflurane is classified

Anesthetics – Inhalation

Desflurane During Pregnancy

Desflurane 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 Desflurane while pregnant

There are no adequate and well-controlled studies in pregnant women. SUPRANE (desflurane, USP) should be used during pregnancy only if the potential benefit justifies the potential risk to the fetus. Rats exposed to desflurane at 1 MAC-Hour per day from gestation day 15 to lactation day 21, did not show signs of dystocia. Body weight of pups delivered by these dams at birth and during lactation were comparable to that of control pups. No treatment related behavioral changes were reported in these pups during lactation.

Taking Desflurane While Breastfeeding

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

There is no published experience with desflurane during breastfeeding. Because the serum half-life of desflurane in the mother is short and the drug is not expected to be absorbed by the infant, no waiting period or discarding of milk is required. Breastfeeding can be resumed as soon as the mother has recovered sufficiently from general anesthesia to nurse.[1] When a combination of anesthetic agents is used for a procedure, follow the recommendations for the most problematic medication used during the procedure. In one study, breastfeeding before general anesthesia induction reduced requirements of sevoflurane and propofol compared to those of nursing mothers whose breastfeeding was withheld or nonnursing women.[2] It is possible that requirements for other anesthetic agents would be affected similarly.

Maternal / infant drug levels

There is no published experience with desflurane during breastfeeding. Because the serum half-life of desflurane in the mother is short and the drug is not expected to be absorbed by the infant, no waiting period or discarding of milk is required. Breastfeeding can be resumed as soon as the mother has recovered sufficiently from general anesthesia to nurse.[1] When a combination of anesthetic agents is used for a procedure, follow the recommendations for the most problematic medication used during the procedure. In one study, breastfeeding before general anesthesia induction reduced requirements of sevoflurane and propofol compared to those of nursing mothers whose breastfeeding was withheld or nonnursing women.[2] It is possible that requirements for other anesthetic agents would be affected similarly.

Possible effects of Desflurane on milk supply

Relevant published information was not found as of the revision date.

Possible alternatives to Desflurane

None listed