Suprane (Inhalation)

Desflurane is part of a group of medicines called general anesthetics. Inhaled desflurane is used to cause general anesthesia (loss of consciousness) before and during surgery in adults. It is also used to maintain anesthesia in adults and children after they have received other anesthetics before and during surgery.

This medicine will be given only by or under the direct supervision of a trained 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 necessary to check for side effects.

Hyperkalemia may happen rarely after you receive this medicine. Tell your doctor immediately if you experience confusion, irregular heartbeat, nausea or vomiting, numbness or tingling in your 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 or your child have a fast heartbeat, high fever, or stiff muscles.

Get in touch with your doctor immediately if you notice any changes in your heart rhythm. You might feel dizzy or faint, or you could have a fast, pounding, or uneven heartbeat. Make sure your doctor is aware if you have had a heart rhythm problem, including QT prolongation.

Contact your doctor right away 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 your eyes and skin. These could be signs of a serious liver issue.

Before you undergo any medical tests, inform the medical doctor in charge that you are taking this medicine. The results of some tests may be influenced by this medicine.

General anesthetics may cause some people to feel drowsy, tired, or weak. They may also lead to issues with coordination and thinking. Therefore, for about 24 hours (or longer if needed) after receiving a general anesthetic, do not drive, operate machinery, or engage in any activities that could be dangerous if you are not fully alert.

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

In deciding to use a medicine, you and your doctor need to consider the risks of taking the medicine against the benefits it will provide. For this medicine, keep the following in mind:

Allergies

Inform your doctor if you have ever had any unusual or allergic reaction to this medicine or any other medicines. Also, let your healthcare professional know if you have any other allergies, such as to foods, dyes, preservatives, or animals. For non-prescription products, carefully read the label or package ingredients.

Pediatric

Studies have not shown any specific problems that would limit the use of inhaled desflurane in children after they have received other anesthetics. However, children 6 years of age and younger are more likely to experience unwanted side effects, such as coughing, chest tightness, or trouble breathing, which may require caution when using this medicine.

Geriatric

Studies have not shown any specific problems that would limit the use of inhaled desflurane in elderly patients. However, older patients are more likely to experience unwanted effects, which may require a dose adjustment when using this medicine.

Breast Feeding

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

Interactions with Medicines

Some medicines should not be used together at all, while others may be used together even if an interaction might happen. In these cases, your doctor may need to change the dose, or other precautions may be needed. When receiving this medicine, it is especially important for your healthcare professional to know if you are taking any of the following medicines. The following interactions have been chosen based on their potential importance and are not necessarily a complete list.

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 adjust the dose or how often you use one or both of the medicines.

• Alfentanil
• Cisatracurium
• Dexmethylphenidate
• Methylphenidate
• Nitrous Oxide
• Norepinephrine
• Serdexmethylphenidate
• St John's Wort

Interactions with Food/Tobacco/Alcohol

Some medicines should not be used at or around meal times, as interactions may occur. Using alcohol or tobacco with certain medicines may also lead to interactions. Talk to your healthcare professional about using your medicine with food, alcohol, or tobacco.

Other Medical Problems

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

• Asthma or
• Diseases that can cause muscle weakness (for example, familial periodic paralysis, Duchenne muscular dystrophy, myasthenia gravis, Eaton-Lambert syndrome), or history of or
• Heart or blood vessel disease (for example, coronary artery disease) or
• Heart rhythm problems or
• Hyperkalemia (high potassium in the blood) or
• Hypovolemia (low blood volume) or
• Recent upper airway infection—Use with caution. This may worsen these conditions.

• Liver disease (for example, cirrhosis, viral hepatitis)—The doctor may want to use a different anesthetic in patients with these conditions.

• Moderate or severe liver disease (caused by desflurane or similar medicines), history of or
• Malignant hyperthermia, known or suspected—Should not be used in patients with these conditions.

Along with its needed effects, a medicine may cause some unwanted effects. Not all of these side effects may happen, but if they do, they might need medical attention.

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

More common

• Bluish lips or skin
• Body aches or pain
• Chest tightness
• Congestion
• Cough
• Dryness or soreness of the throat
• Fever
• Hoarseness
• Not breathing
• Runny nose
• Tender, swollen glands in the neck
• Trouble breathing
• Trouble swallowing
• Voice changes

Less common

• Blurred vision
• Chest pain or discomfort
• Dizziness
• Fast, pounding, or irregular heartbeat or pulse
• Headache
• Lightheadedness, dizziness, or fainting
• Nervousness
• Pounding in the ears
• Slow or irregular heartbeat
• Unusual tiredness

Rare

• Dark urine
• Difficulty with moving
• Feeling of warmth or heat
• Flushing or redness of the skin, especially on the face and neck
• General tiredness and weakness
• Joint pain
• Light-colored stools
• Muscle aching or cramping
• Muscle pains or stiffness
• Nausea and vomiting
• Noisy breathing
• Pain or discomfort in the arms, jaw, back, or neck
• Sweating
• Swollen joints
• Upper right abdominal or stomach pain
• Yellow eyes and skin

Incidence not known

• Confusion
• Decreased urine
• Dry mouth
• Increased thirst
• Loss of appetite
• No blood pressure or pulse
• Numbness or tingling in the hands, feet, or lips
• Seizures
• Stomach pain
• Stopping of heart
• Unconsciousness
• Weakness or heaviness of the legs

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

Less common

• Increased watering of the mouth
• Redness of the white part of the eyes or inside of the eyelids

Rare

• Anxiety
• Irritability
• Itching skin
• Restlessness
• Shaking
• Trouble sleeping

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 can report side effects to the FDA at 1-800-FDA-1088.

In the U.S.

• Suprane

Available Dosage Forms:

• Solution
• 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.

Your doctor will give you some medicines before receiving Suprane®.