etomidate
Pharmaranks rates Etomidate 3.6/5 for recall safety — an independent score from its FDA recall history and its manufacturer's record. Etomidate is a general anesthetic used to treat Brain Ischemia, Pain, Status Epilepticus, Closed Head Injuries.
General Anesthetic · by Rising
⚠ FDA reports a current shortage of the injection form — availability differs between suppliers — see drug shortages →Based on 1 source · Recall-safety score from FDA recall history — this product's own recalls and its manufacturer's record. Not an efficacy or quality rating. methodology →
Key facts
- Active ingredient
- Etomidate
- Drug class
- General Anesthetic
- Form
- Injectable, Solution
- Strength
- Etomidate 2MG/ML
- Type
- Prescription (Rx)
- Brand or generic
- Generic
- May treat
- brain ischemia, pain, status epilepticus
- Manufacturer
- Rising
- FDA application
- ANDA078289
- Availability
- Discontinued (per FDA)
What is Etomidate?
From the FDA label:Etomidate Injection, USP is a sterile, non-pyrogenic, clear, colorless solution, free from visible particles. Each milliliter contains etomidate USP 2 mg, propylene glycol 35% v/v. The pH is 6.0 (4.0 to 7.0). It is intended for the induction of general anesthesia by intravenous injection. The drug etomidate is chemically identified as (R)-(+)-ethyl-1-(1-phenylethyl)-1H-imidazole-5-carboxylate and has the following structural formula: Etomidate USP is a white or almost white powder. Etomidate Chemical Structure
How to use
Etomidate is sold in more than one form (Injectable and Solution), and each is dosed differently. The instructions below come from the FDA label for application ANDA078289 — follow the label that came with the product you were actually prescribed.
Do not administer unless solution is clear and container is undamaged. Discard unused portion (see DOSAGE AND ADMINISTRATION ). Etomidate Injection is intended for administration only by the intravenous route (see CLINICAL PHARMACOLOGY ). The dose for induction of anesthesia in adult patients and in pediatric patients above the age of ten (10) years will vary between 0.2 mg/kg and 0.6 mg/kg of body weight, and it must be individualized in each case. The usual dose for induction in these patients is 0.3 mg/kg, injected over a period of 30 to 60 seconds. There are inadequate data to make dosage recommendations for induction of anesthesia in patients below the age of ten (10) years; therefore, such use is not recommended. Geriatric patients may require reduced doses of etomidate. Smaller increments of intravenous etomidate may be administered to adult patients during short operative procedures to supplement subpotent anesthetic agents, such as nitrous oxide. The dosage employed under these circumstances, although usually smaller than the original induction dose, must be individualized. There are insufficient data to support this use of etomidate for longer adult procedures or for any procedures in pediatric patients; therefore, such use is not recommended. The use of intravenous fentanyl and other neuroactive drugs employed during the conduct of anesthesia may alter the etomidate…
Side effects
The most frequent adverse reactions associated with use of intravenous etomidate are transient venous pain on injection and transient skeletal muscle movements, including myoclonus: 1. Transient venous pain was observed immediately following intravenous injection of etomidate in about 20% of the patients, with considerable difference in the reported incidence (1.2% to 42%). This pain is usually described as mild to moderate in severity but it is occasionally judged disturbing. The observation of venous pain is not associated with a more than usual incidence of thrombosis or thrombophlebitis at the injection site. Pain also appears to be less frequently noted when larger, more proximal arm veins are employed and it appears to be more frequently noted when smaller, more distal, hand or wrist veins are employed. 2. Transient skeletal muscle movements were noted following use of intravenous etomidate in about 32% of the patients, with considerable difference in the reported incidence (22.7% to 63%). Most of these observations were judged mild to moderate in severity but some were judged disturbing. The incidence of disturbing movements was less when 0.1 mg of fentanyl was given immediately before induction. These movements have been classified as myoclonic in the majority of cases (74%), but averting movements (7%), tonic movements (10%), and eye movements (9%) have also been…
Warnings
Important safety information
Pediatric Neurotoxicity: Published animal studies demonstrate that the administration of anesthetic and sedation drugs that block NMDA receptors and/or potentiate GABA activity increase neuronal apoptosis in the developing brain and result in long-term cognitive deficits when used for longer than 3 hours. The clinical significance of these findings is not clear. However, based on the available data, the window of vulnerability to these changes is believed to correlate with exposures in the third trimester of gestation through the first several months of life, but may extend out to approximately three years of age in humans (see PRECAUTIONS/Pregnancy, Pediatric Use, ANIMAL TOXICOLOGY AND/OR PHARMACOLOGY ). Some published studies in children suggest that similar deficits may occur after repeated or prolonged exposures to anesthetic agents early in life and may result in adverse cognitive or behavioral effects. These studies have substantial limitations, and it is not clear if the observed effects are due to the anesthetic/sedation drug administration or other factors such as the surgery or underlying illness. Anesthetic and sedation drugs are a necessary part of the care of children needing surgery, other procedures, or tests that cannot be delayed, and no specific medications have been shown to be safer than any other. Decisions regarding the timing of any elective procedures requiring anesthesia should take into consideration the benefits of the procedure weighed against the potential risks.
Who should not take Etomidate
Etomidate is contraindicated in patients who have shown hypersensitivity to it.
Overdose — what happens if you take too much
Overdosage may occur from too rapid or repeated injections. Too rapid injection may be followed by a fall in blood pressure. No adverse cardiovascular or respiratory effects attributable to etomidate overdose have been reported. In the event of suspected or apparent overdosage, the drug should be discontinued, a patent airway established (intubate, if necessary) or maintained and oxygen administered with assisted ventilation, if necessary.
U.S. Poison Control: call or text 1-800-222-1222 (free, 24/7). In an emergency call 911. From the FDA label; not medical advice.
Drug class
How this class works, per Isoflurane - StatPearls - NCBI Bookshelf.
May treat (source: NIH RxClass)
- brain ischemia
- pain
- status epilepticus
- closed head injuries
See how Etomidate ranks — best-rated general anesthetic for:
Dosage forms
Injectable and Solution
The forms currently marketed in the U.S., per the FDA National Drug Code Directory.
Ways to save
Ask for the generic
Same active ingredient, far cheaper. Is there a generic? →
Request a 90-day supply
Bulk fills usually lower the per-dose price vs monthly refills.
Use copay cards
Manufacturer copay cards & patient-assistance programs — especially for brand drugs.
Compare alternatives
A same-class option may cost less. See alternatives →
Frequently asked questions
- What does Etomidate treat?
- Etomidate (Etomidate) may be used to treat brain ischemia, pain, status epilepticus, closed head injuries, based on NIH RxClass drug-classification data (conditions a drug may treat — not a verbatim copy of the FDA-approved label). This is general reference, not medical advice.
- How does Etomidate work?
- Etomidate is a general anesthetic. General anesthetics produce reversible unconsciousness by altering the brain's chemical signaling: they boost the activity of calming GABA receptors while dampening excitatory NMDA receptors. This tips the brain into a deeply sedated state that prevents awareness, memory, and pain during surgery.
- How is Etomidate rated?
- pharmaranks gives Etomidate a composite score of 3.6 out of 5, currently based on 1 weighted source (FDA regulatory recall-safety data weighted highest). See our methodology at /how-we-rate.
- Is there a coupon or discount for Etomidate?
- pharmaranks is an independent ratings site, not a pharmacy — we don't issue coupons or sell Etomidate. To pay less, Etomidate is already a generic — usually the lowest-cost version — so the main levers are comparing cash prices between pharmacies and using a pharmacy discount-card service. Prices vary by pharmacy, insurance, and location, so always confirm at the counter. This is general reference, not medical or financial advice.
- Who makes Etomidate?
- Etomidate is marketed by Rising. You can see Rising's full profile, rating, and other products on pharmaranks.
- Is Etomidate a brand-name or generic drug?
- Etomidate is a generic medication; its active ingredient is Etomidate. Generics contain the same active ingredient as the brand-name original and are usually lower cost.
- Is Etomidate available over the counter?
- No. Etomidate is a prescription (Rx) medication in the US — you need a prescription from a licensed clinician (in person or via telehealth); it isn't sold over the counter. For some conditions there are OTC alternatives — ask your pharmacist.
- What forms does Etomidate come in?
- Etomidate is currently marketed as injectable and solution, per the FDA's National Drug Code Directory.
- What class of drug is Etomidate?
- Etomidate is classified as general anesthetic, per the FDA's Established Pharmacologic Class.
- Is Etomidate FDA-registered?
- Etomidate is on record with the U.S. FDA under application number ANDA078289. You can verify this on its official FDA label.
- Has Etomidate been recalled by the FDA?
- Etomidate has no FDA recalls recorded under its own application in the openFDA enforcement database. Its recall-safety score reflects its manufacturer's overall recall record. This is general reference, not medical advice — check the FDA recall database for the latest alerts.
- Is Etomidate safe?
- There's no single safe-or-not verdict. pharmaranks gives Etomidate a recall-safety score of 72/100, based on its FDA recall history (no recalls under its own FDA application) — not an efficacy or side-effect rating. Review its FDA-label side effects and warnings before use, and always consult a licensed professional.
- What are the side effects of Etomidate?
- Etomidate's side effects are taken directly from its FDA label. From the label: The most frequent adverse reactions associated with use of intravenous etomidate are transient venous pain on injection and transient skeletal muscle movements, including myoclonus: 1.… Both common and serious reactions are documented in full on this page. This is general reference from the FDA, not medical advice — always consult a professional.
Clinical content sourced from the FDA label via openFDA (U.S. FDA). View the FDA label on DailyMed → Provided for general reference only — not medical advice. Always consult a licensed professional and the current prescribing information.
Reviews
No reviews yet. Be the first to write one.
People also viewed
Compare Etomidate head-to-head
Browse medications A–Z
Research products from A to Z, compare independent ratings, and find alternatives.
etomidate
72/100