PROPOFOL

(Diprivan)

Standard Prescription

propofol __mcg/kg/min IV infusion

Dosages

Short-term Sedation in Mechanical Ventilation:
20-200 mcg/kg/min IV continuous infusion
Starting dose: 0.5-1 mg/kg IV bolus (maximum 50 mg) and 50 mcg/kg/min IV infusion
Titrate by 5-10 mcg/kg/min q5min as needed to achieve desired response with minimum effective dose
Adults: 5-50 mcg/kg/min IV

Maintenance of Anaesthesia:
100-300 mcg/kg/min IV continuous infusion
Usual dose: 125-150 mcg/kg/min
Younger children may require larger doses compared to older children and adults

Procedural Sedation:
Initial: 0.5-2 mg/kg/dose IV followed by 0.5-2 mg/kg/dose as needed to achieve adequate sedation

Migraine treatment:*
0.25 mg/kg/dose IV PUSH (maximum 20 mg/dose) q5min PRN until VAS is < 4
Maximum 5 doses total

Mechanism of Action

General anesthetic.

Forms Supplied

injection: 200 mg/20 mL vial (in 10% soybean emulsion).

Standard Concentration in Critical Care: 10 mg/mL.

Comments

For short term (< 24 hours) or intermittent use only.

Caution: Prolonged continuous use (> 24 hours) and higher doses (> 70 mcg/kg/min) in infants and children may cause Propofol-Related Infusion Syndrome (PRIS): metabolic acidosis, lipemia, hypotension, multi-system organ failure, rhabdomyolysis, cardiovascular collapse.

The emulsion vehicle is similar to lipid emulsions such as Intralipid and similar precautions should be observed.

For use in procedural sedation, refer to: Procedural Sedation/Analgesia Guidelines.

* For patients >= 7 years of age presenting to ED with acute migraine and do not respond to first-line therapy, defined by Visual Analog Scale (VAS) pain score greater than or equal to 6. Refer to Guidelines for the Administration of propofol for migraine treatment in the Emergency Department on PHSA SHOP.

References

32, 44, 112, 482

Last Edited

2025-10-12 23:25:20