| Indication | For use as an inhalation agent for induction and/or maintenance of anesthesia for inpatient and outpatient surgery in adults. |
| Pharmacodynamics | Desflurane is a general inhalation anesthetic. It induces muscle relaxation and reduces pains sensitivity by altering tissue excitability. It does so by decreasing the extent of gap junction mediated cell-cell coupling and altering the activity of the channels that underlie the action potential. |
| Mechanism of action | Desflurane induces a reduction in junctional conductance by decreasing gap junction channel opening times and increasing gap junction channel closing times. Desflurane also activates calcium dependent ATPase in the sarcoplasmic reticulum by increasing the fluidity of the lipid membrane. It also appears to bind the D subunit of ATP synthase and NADH dehydogenase. Desflurane also binds to and agonizes the GABA receptor, the large conductance Ca2+ activated potassium channel, the glycine receptors, and antagonizes the glutamate receptors. |
| Absorption | Rapidly absorbed into the circulation via the lungs following inhalation. |
| Volume of distribution | Not Available |
| Protein binding | Not Available |
| Metabolism | Minimally biotransformed in the liver in humans (approximately 0.02% of the quantity absorbed). |
| Route of elimination | Not Available |
| Half life | Not Available |
| Clearance | Not Available |
| Toxicity | Not Available |