Enflurane is a halogenated inhalational anesthetic agent used for the induction and maintenance of anesthesia and for analgesia during labor and delivery. Since this date, it has been withdrawn from the US market.
- Mechanism
- Curator reviewed · 7 references
The mechanism of action of enflurane is not completely established. Studies on rats indicate that enflurane binds to GABAA and glycine receptors, causing depressant effects at the ventral neural horn. It has been reported that 30% of the central nervous system depressant effects on the spinal cord after enflurane is administered are caused by the (GABA-A) receptor while binding to glycine receptors is responsible for about 20 % of the depressant effects. The relevance of these findings to humans is unknown. Other studies have found that enflurane binds to the calcium channels in the cardiac sarcoplasmic reticulum causing cardio depressant effects. Other studies support that this drug potentiates glycine receptors, which results in central nervous system depressant effects.
- Primary indication
- Enflurane may be used for both the induction and maintenance of general anesthesia.Curator reviewed · 5 structured indications
- Formula / weight
- C3H2ClF5O · 184.492 g/mol (avg)
- First approval
- Canada, 1999 · United States, 1972
- Also known as
- Alyrane · Efrane · Methylflurether
- Code names
- Anesthetic 347 · OHIO 347 · R-E-235CA2
Resolves to
JPGQOUSTVILISH-UHFFFAOYSA-NSMILESFC(F)OC(F)(F)C(F)ClWhat you can answer from here — as of September 23, 2026
Which drugs share a target with Enflurane, and which of those have an active Phase 3 trial?
Create a free account or log in to explore the full data card.
Create Account