Propofol is a commonly used intravenous anesthetic with the following properties:
- It acts by enhancing the effects of the inhibitory neurotransmitter GABA at GABA-A receptors in the brain, causing sedation and hypnosis.
- It has a rapid onset and context-sensitive half-life, distributing quickly throughout the body before being metabolized in the liver.
- It can be used for induction and maintenance of general anesthesia, as well as for sedation in the ICU. Common side effects include hypotension, respiratory depression, and pain at the injection site. Rare but serious complications include propofol infusion syndrome.