Active ingredient: Halothane - Brands, Medical Use, Clinical Data

Brands, Medical Use, Clinical Data

Drug Category

• Anesthetics
• Anesthetics, Inhalation
• General Anesthetics

Dosage Forms

• Solution

Brands / Synonyms

Alotano; Alotano [Dcit]; Anestan; Bromchlortrifluoraethanum; Bromochlorotrifluoroethane; Cf3chclbr; Chalothane; Fluktan; Fluorotane; Fluorothane; Fluothane; Freon 123b1; Ftorotan; Ftorotan [Russian]; Ftuorotan; Halan; Halotan; Halotano; Halotano [Inn-Spanish]; Halothan; Halothane [Anaesthetics, Volatile]; Halothane [Ban:Inn:Jan]; Halothanum [Inn-Latin]; Halsan; Narcotan; Narcotane; Narcotann Ne-Spofa; Narcotann Ne-Spofa [Russian]; Narkotan; Phthorothanum; Rhodialothan

Indications

For the induction and maintenance of general anesthesia

Pharmacology

Halothane is a general inhalation anesthetic used for induction and maintenance of general anesthesia. It reduces the blood pressure and frequently decreases the pulse rate and depresses respiration. It induces muscle relaxation and reduces pains sensitivity by altering tissue excitability. It does so by decreasing the extent of gap junction mediated cell-cell coupling and altering the activity of the channels that underlie the action potential.

Mechanism of Action

Halothane induces a reduction in junctional conductance by decreasing gap junction channel opening times and increasing gap junction channel closing times. Halothane also activates calcium dependent ATPase in the sarcoplasmic reticulum by increasing the fluidity of the lipid membrane. Also appears to bind the D subunit of ATP synthase and NADH dehydogenase. Halothane also binds to the GABA receptor, the large conductance Ca²⁺ activated potassium channel, the glutamate receptor and the glycine receptor.

Absorption

Not Available

Toxicity

Not Available

Biotrnasformation / Drug Metabolism

Not Available

Contraindications

Fluothane is not recommended for obstetrical anesthesia except when uterine relaxation is required.

Drug Interactions

FLUOTHANE augments the action of non-depolarising muscle relaxants and the muscle relaxant effects of aminoglycosides.

FLUOTHANE may augment the hypotension caused by the ganglionic-blocking effect of tubocurarine.

Caution should be exercised during the administration of adrenaline to patients anaesthetised with FLUOTHANE as arrhythmias may be precipitated. For this reason the dose of adrenaline should be restricted and an antiarrhythmic agent administered as appropriate. Caution should also be applied for other sympathomimetics, and for aminophylline and theophylline and tricyclic antidepressants, which may also precipitate arrhythmias.