Before Using

Drug information provided by: Merative, Micromedex®

In deciding to use a medicine, the risks of taking the medicine must be weighed against the good it will do. This is a decision you and your doctor will make. For this medicine, the following should be considered:

Allergies

Tell your doctor if you have ever had any unusual or allergic reaction to this medicine or any other medicines. Also tell your health care professional if you have any other types of allergies, such as to foods, dyes, preservatives, or animals. For non-prescription products, read the label or package ingredients carefully.

Pediatric

Appropriate studies performed to date have not demonstrated pediatric-specific problems that would limit the usefulness of inhaled desflurane in children after receiving other anesthetics. However, children 6 years of age and younger are more likely to have unwanted side effects, such as coughing, chest tightness, or trouble breathing, which may require caution in patients receiving this medicine.

Geriatric

Appropriate studies performed to date have not demonstrated geriatric-specific problems that would limit the usefulness of inhaled desflurane in the elderly. However, elderly patients are more likely to have unwanted effects, which may require a dose adjustment in patients receiving this medicine.

Breastfeeding

There are no adequate studies in women for determining infant risk when using this medication during breastfeeding. Weigh the potential benefits against the potential risks before taking this medication while breastfeeding.

Drug Interactions

Although certain medicines should not be used together at all, in other cases two different medicines may be used together even if an interaction might occur. In these cases, your doctor may want to change the dose, or other precautions may be necessary. When you are receiving this medicine, it is especially important that your healthcare professional know if you are taking any of the medicines listed below. The following interactions have been selected on the basis of their potential significance and are not necessarily all-inclusive.

Using this medicine with any of the following medicines is usually not recommended, but may be required in some cases. If both medicines are prescribed together, your doctor may change 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

Other Interactions

Certain medicines should not be used at or around the time of eating food or eating certain types of food since interactions may occur. Using alcohol or tobacco with certain medicines may also cause interactions to occur. Discuss with your healthcare professional the use of your medicine with food, alcohol, or tobacco.

Other Medical Problems

The presence of other medical problems may affect the use of this medicine. Make sure you tell your doctor if you have any other medical problems, especially:

  • Asthma or
  • Diseases that can cause muscle weakness (eg, familial periodic paralysis, Duchenne muscular dystrophy, myasthenia gravis, Eaton-Lambert syndrome), or history of or
  • Heart or blood vessel disease (eg, coronary artery disease) or
  • Heart rhythm problems or
  • Hyperkalemia (high potassium in the blood) or
  • Hypovolemia (low blood volume) or
  • Upper airway infection, recent—Use with caution. May make these conditions worse.
  • Liver disease (eg, cirrhosis, viral hepatitis)—The doctor may want to use another anesthetic in patients with these conditions.
  • Liver disease (caused by desflurane or similar medicines), moderate or severe, history of or
  • Malignant hyperthermia, known or suspected—Should not be used in patients with these conditions.