Sevoflurane is a inhalation anaesthetic agent used for induction and maintenance of general anesthesia during surgical procedures. It is a volatile, non-flammable compound with a low solubility profile and blood/gas partition coefficient.
- Mechanism
- Curator reviewed · 3 references
The precise mechanism of action of sevoflurane has not been fully elucidated. Like other halogenated inhalational anesthetics, sevoflurane induces anesthesia by binding to ligand-gated ion channels and blocking CNS neurotransmission. It has been suggested that inhaled anesthetics enhance inhibitory postsynaptic channel activity by binding GABAA and glycine receptors, and inhibit excitatory synaptic channel activity by binding nicotinic acetylcholine, serotonin, and glutamate receptors. Sevoflurane has an effect on several ionic currents, including the hyperpolarisation-activated cation current (If), the T-type and L-type Ca2+ currents (ICa, T and ICa, L), the slowly activating delayed rectifier K+ currents (IKs), and the Na+/Ca2+ exchange current (INCX). This ability to modulate ion channel activity can also regulate cardiac excitability and contractility.
- Primary indication
- Sevoflurane is used for the induction and maintenance of general anesthesia in adult and pediatric patients for inpatient and outpatient surgery.Curator reviewed · 2 structured indications
- Formula / weight
- C4H3F7O · 200.0548 g/mol (avg)
- First approval
- Canada, 2005 · United States, 1995
- Also known as
- Sevofluran
- Code names
- MR-6S4
- Brand names
Resolves to
DFEYYRMXOJXZRJ-UHFFFAOYSA-NSMILESFCOC(C(F)(F)F)C(F)(F)FWhat you can answer from here — as of September 23, 2026
Which drugs share a target with Sevoflurane, and which of those have an active Phase 3 trial?
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