Sevoflurane (Inhalation)

Inhaled sevoflurane is used to induce general anesthesia (loss of consciousness) before and during surgery. It is part of a group of medicines called general anesthetics.

This medicine must be administered only by or under the direct supervision of a doctor.

Your doctor will monitor you closely after you receive this medicine. This will help your doctor see if the medicine is working correctly. Blood and urine tests may be needed to check for side effects.

Hyperkalemia may happen rarely after receiving this medicine. Tell your doctor immediately if you experience confusion, irregular heartbeat, nausea or vomiting, numbness or tingling in the hands, feet, or legs, or trouble breathing after receiving this medicine.

This medicine may cause malignant hyperthermia (high body temperature). Contact your doctor right away if you have a fast heartbeat, high fever, or stiff muscles.

Call your doctor immediately if you have black, tarry stools, chills, dark urine, dizziness, fever, general tiredness or weakness, headache, itching, light-colored stools, loss of appetite, nausea and vomiting, upper right stomach pain, vomiting blood, or yellowing of the eyes and skin. These may be signs of a serious liver issue.

Reach out to your doctor right away if you notice any changes in your heart rhythm. You might feel dizzy or faint, or you may have a fast, pounding, or uneven heartbeat. Make sure your doctor knows if you have had a heart rhythm problem, including QT prolongation.

This medicine may cause severe bradycardia (slow heartbeat) in patients with Down syndrome. Contact your doctor immediately if you or your child experiences chest pain or discomfort, lightheadedness, dizziness, fainting, slow or irregular heartbeat, trouble breathing, or unusual tiredness.

General anesthetics may make some people feel drowsy, tired, or weak. They may also affect coordination and thinking. Therefore, after receiving a general anesthetic, do not drive, operate machinery, or do anything else that could be dangerous if you are not alert.

Do not take other medicines unless your doctor has discussed them with you. This includes prescription or nonprescription (over-the-counter [OTC]) medicines and herbal or vitamin supplements.

In deciding to use a medicine, the risks of taking the medicine must be weighed against the benefits it will provide. This is a decision you and your doctor will make together. For this medicine, consider the following:

Allergies

Inform your doctor if you have ever had any unusual or allergic reactions to this medicine or any other medicines. Also, tell your healthcare professional if you have any other types of allergies, like to foods, dyes, preservatives, or animals. For non-prescription products, read the label or package ingredients carefully.

Pediatric

Studies conducted so far have not shown any specific problems in children that would limit the usefulness of inhaled sevoflurane. However, children are more likely to experience unwanted side effects, including brain or nerve issues or heart problems, which may require caution when using this medicine.

Geriatric

Studies conducted so far have not shown any specific problems in elderly patients that would limit the usefulness of inhaled sevoflurane.

Breast Feeding

There are no adequate studies in women to determine the risk to infants when using this medication while breastfeeding. Carefully consider the potential benefits against the potential risks before taking this medication while breastfeeding.

Interactions with Medicines

Some medicines should not be used together at all, while in other cases, two different medicines may be used together even if an interaction might occur. In these cases, your doctor may adjust the dose or take other precautions. When you are receiving this medicine, it is especially important that your healthcare professional knows if you are taking any of the medicines listed below. The following interactions have been chosen based on their potential importance and are not necessarily all-inclusive.

Using this medicine with any of the following medicines is not recommended. Your doctor may decide not to give you this medication or change some of the other medicines you take.

• Bepridil
• Cisapride
• Dronedarone
• Levoketoconazole
• Mesoridazine
• Pimozide
• Piperaquine
• Saquinavir
• Sparfloxacin
• Terfenadine
• Thioridazine
• Ziprasidone

Using this medicine with any of the following medicines is usually not recommended but may be necessary in some situations. If both medicines are prescribed together, your doctor may change the dose or frequency of one or both medicines.

• Adagrasib
• Alfentanil
• Alfuzosin
• Amiodarone
• Amisulpride
• Amitriptyline
• Anagrelide
• Apomorphine
• Aripiprazole
• Aripiprazole Lauroxil
• Arsenic Trioxide
• Asenapine
• Astemizole
• Atazanavir
• Azithromycin
• Bedaquiline
• Buprenorphine
• Bupropion
• Buserelin
• Ceritinib
• Chloroquine
• Chlorpromazine
• Ciprofloxacin
• Citalopram
• Clarithromycin
• Clofazimine
• Clomipramine
• Clothiapine
• Clozapine
• Crizotinib
• Cyclobenzaprine
• Dabrafenib
• Dasatinib
• Degarelix
• Delamanid
• Desipramine
• Deslorelin
• Deutetrabenazine
• Dexmedetomidine
• Dexmethylphenidate
• Disopyramide
• Dofetilide
• Dolasetron
• Domperidone
• Donepezil
• Doxepin
• Droperidol
• Ebastine
• Efavirenz
• Encorafenib
• Entrectinib
• Eribulin
• Erythromycin
• Escitalopram
• Etrasimod
• Famotidine
• Felbamate
• Fexinidazole
• Fingolimod
• Flecainide
• Fluconazole
• Fluoxetine
• Formoterol
• Foscarnet
• Fosphenytoin
• Fostemsavir
• Galantamine
• Gatifloxacin
• Gemifloxacin
• Gepirone
• Glasdegib
• Gonadorelin
• Goserelin
• Granisetron
• Halofantrine
• Haloperidol
• Histrelin
• Hydroquinidine
• Hydroxychloroquine
• Hydroxyzine
• Ibutilide
• Iloperidone
• Imipramine
• Inotuzumab Ozogamicin
• Itraconazole
• Ivabradine
• Ivosidenib
• Ketoconazole
• Lapatinib
• Lefamulin
• Lenvatinib
• Leuprolide
• Levofloxacin
• Lofexidine
• Lumefantrine
• Macimorelin
• Mefloquine
• Methadone
• Methylphenidate
• Metronidazole
• Mifepristone
• Mirtazapine
• Mizolastine
• Mobocertinib
• Moxifloxacin
• Nafarelin
• Nilotinib
• Nitrous Oxide
• Norepinephrine
• Norfloxacin
• Octreotide
• Ofloxacin
• Olanzapine
• Ondansetron
• Osilodrostat
• Osimertinib
• Oxaliplatin
• Ozanimod
• Pacritinib
• Paliperidone
• Panobinostat
• Paroxetine
• Pasireotide
• Pazopanib
• Pentamidine
• Perphenazine
• Phenobarbital
• Pimavanserin
• Pitolisant
• Ponesimod
• Posaconazole
• Primidone
• Probucol
• Procainamide
• Prochlorperazine
• Promethazine
• Propafenone
• Protriptyline
• Quetiapine
• Quinidine
• Quinine
• Quizartinib
• Ranolazine
• Relugolix
• Ribociclib
• Rilpivirine
• Risperidone
• Ritonavir
• Selpercatinib
• Serdexmethylphenidate
• Sertindole
• Sertraline
• Siponimod
• Sodium Phosphate
• Sodium Phosphate, Dibasic
• Sodium Phosphate, Monobasic
• Solifenacin
• Sorafenib
• Sotalol
• St John's Wort
• Sulpiride
• Sunitinib
• Tacrolimus
• Tamoxifen
• Telaprevir
• Telavancin
• Telithromycin
• Tetrabenazine
• Tolterodine
• Toremifene
• Trazodone
• Triclabendazole
• Trimipramine
• Triptorelin
• Vandetanib
• Vardenafil
• Vemurafenib
• Venlafaxine
• Vilanterol
• Vinflunine
• Voclosporin
• Voriconazole
• Vorinostat
• Zuclopenthixol

Using this medicine with any of the following medicines may increase the risk of certain side effects, but using both drugs may be necessary for your treatment. If both medicines are prescribed together, your doctor may adjust the dose or frequency of one or both medicines.

• Alcuronium
• Atracurium
• Doxacurium
• Metocurine
• Mivacurium
• Pancuronium
• Pipecuronium
• Rocuronium
• Tubocurarine
• Vecuronium

Interactions with Food/Tobacco/Alcohol

Some medicines should not be used around meal times or with certain foods because interactions may occur. Using alcohol or tobacco with some medicines may also lead to interactions. Discuss with your healthcare professional the use of your medicine with food, alcohol, or tobacco.

Other Medical Problems

Having other medical conditions may affect how you can use this medicine. Make sure to inform your doctor if you have any other medical issues, especially:

• Down syndrome—Use with caution. This may cause serious heart problems (e.g., slow heartbeat, cardiac arrest) in patients with this condition.

• Heart or blood vessel disease or
• Heart rhythm problems or
• Hyperkalemia (high potassium in the blood) or
• Hypotension (low blood pressure) or
• Hypovolemia (low blood volume) or
• Kidney disease or
• Liver disease or
• Lung or breathing problems (e.g., respiratory depression)—Use with caution. This may worsen these conditions.

• Hereditary problems (e.g., high risk for malignant hyperthermia)—Should not be used in patients with these conditions.

Along with its needed effects, a medicine may cause some unwanted effects. Although not all of these side effects may occur, if they do occur they may need medical attention.

Check with your doctor or nurse immediately if any of the following side effects occur:

More common

• Blurred vision
• chest pain, tightness, or discomfort
• choking
• confusion
• dizziness, faintness, or lightheadedness when getting up suddenly from a lying or sitting position
• fast, pounding, or irregular heartbeat or pulse
• lightheadedness, dizziness, or fainting
• slow or irregular heartbeat
• sweating
• trouble breathing
• unable to speak
• unusual tiredness or weakness

Less common

• Low body temperature
• not breathing
• pale or blue lips, fingernails, or skin
• weak or feeble pulse

Rare

• Bleeding gums
• blood in the urine or stools
• body aches or pain
• chills
• cough
• coughing up blood
• decrease in frequency of urination
• decrease in urine volume
• difficulty in swallowing
• difficulty in passing urine (dribbling)
• extremely shallow or slow breathing
• eye pain
• fainting
• general feeling of illness
• headache
• hoarseness
• increased menstrual flow or vaginal bleeding
• nausea
• noisy breathing
• nosebleeds
• painful urination
• paralysis
• pinpoint red spots on skin
• prolonged bleeding from cuts
• red or dark brown urine
• red or black, tarry stools
• sore throat
• stuffy or runny nose
• tender, swollen glands in the neck
• trouble in swallowing
• unusual bleeding or bruising
• voice changes

Incidence not known

• Confusion as to time, place, or person
• dark urine
• hallucinations
• high fever
• hives, itching, or skin rash
• holding false beliefs that cannot be changed by fact
• increased blood pressure
• increased thirst
• light-colored stools
• lower back or side pain
• no blood pressure or pulse
• puffiness or swelling of the eyelids or around the eyes, face, lips, or tongue
• restlessness
• rigid muscles
• seizures
• shakiness
• sleepiness
• slow to respond
• slurred speech
• stomach pain, continuing
• stopping of the heart
• swelling of the face, fingers, lower legs
• unconsciousness
• unpleasant breath odor
• unusual excitement, nervousness, or restlessness
• upper right abdominal or stomach pain
• vomiting of blood
• yellow eyes and skin

Some side effects may occur that usually do not need medical attention. These side effects may go away during treatment as your body adjusts to the medicine. Also, your health care professional may be able to tell you about ways to prevent or reduce some of these side effects. Check with your health care professional if any of the following side effects continue or are bothersome or if you have any questions about them:

More common

• Shivering
• sleepiness or unusual drowsiness

Less common

• Clumsiness
• problems with movement
• watering of the mouth

Incidence not known

• Burning, dry, or itching eyes
• change in vision
• discharge, excessive tearing
• hiccups
• impaired vision
• lack or loss of strength
• redness, pain, swelling of the eye, eyelid, or inner lining of eyelid

Other side effects not listed may also occur in some patients. If you notice any other effects, check with your healthcare professional.

Call your doctor for medical advice about side effects. You may report side effects to the FDA at 1-800-FDA-1088.

In the U.S.

• Sojourn
• Ultane
• Ultane Amerinet
• Ultane Novation

Available Dosage Forms:

• Liquid

Therapeutic Class: Volatile Liquid

Chemical Class: Haloalkane

A doctor or other trained health professional will give you this medicine in a hospital. You will inhale the medicine through a mask placed over your mouth and nose.