Review of the Hazards and Contraindications of Etomidate

Etomidate, an ultrashort-acting non-barbiturate sedative derived from imidazole, exerts potent inhibitory effects on the central nervous system. It is commonly employed for the induction of intravenous general anaesthesia or assisted anaesthesia. Recently, etomidate has emerged as an alternative to narcotics and novel psychoactive substances, leading to an increasing trend of abuse. Chronic overdose of etomidate can result in irreversible brain damage and various mental disorders. Severe cases may manifest as mental disturbances, behavioural disorders, self-mutilation and even death. The toxicological mechanisms of etomidate remain poorly understood. Additionally, there is limited information on the clinical symptoms and histopathological changes associated with etomidate poisoning and standardized detection methods for etomidate in blood, urine and hair are lacking. Consequently, further research on toxicological pathology and the development of reliable testing methods is crucial. This study reviews the metabolism, distribution, adverse reactions, poisoning manifestations, toxicology mechanisms and testing methods of etomidate.