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Metoclopramide reduces the induction dose of propofol
1Department of Anaesthetics, Hammersmith Hospital, London, UK.
Background:
Metoclopramide has been shown to reduce the dose of thiopentone required for induction of anaesthesia. When propofol is used, there have been conflicting results with one small study showing a reduction in the anaesthetic dose and one study failing to demonstrate any effect.
Methods:
Two groups of 30 patients were studied. The patients were randomised to receive either saline 0.03 ml/mg or metoclopramide 0.15 mg/kg 5 min before a manual injection of propofol at a set rate.
Results:
This study shows a reduction in the dose of propofol required for the induction of general anaesthesia following an intravenous dose of metoclopramide. The induction dose of propofol was reduced by 24%.
Conclusion:
The mechanism of reduction of propofol dose by metoclopramide is unknown; it may involve GABA or result from a more complex interaction involving dopamine blockade by metoclopramide.