PROPOFOL

85/100 · Critical

Manufactured by Fresenius Kabi USA, LLC

Propofol Adverse Events: High Seriousness and Diverse Reactions

57,130 FDA adverse event reports analyzed

Last updated: 2026-05-12

About PROPOFOL

PROPOFOL is a medication tracked in the FDA Adverse Event Reporting System (FAERS), manufactured by Fresenius Kabi USA, LLC. Based on analysis of 57,130 FDA adverse event reports, PROPOFOL has a safety score of 85 out of 100. This score indicates a relatively favorable safety profile, with fewer or less severe adverse events compared to many other tracked medications. The most commonly reported adverse reactions for PROPOFOL include HYPOTENSION, DRUG INEFFECTIVE, ANAPHYLACTIC SHOCK, CARDIAC ARREST, ANAPHYLACTIC REACTION. This page provides a comprehensive breakdown of reported side effects, safety signals, patient demographics, and AI-powered safety analysis for PROPOFOL.

AI Safety Analysis

Propofol has a safety concern score of 85 out of 100, placing it in the high concern category based on analysis of FDA adverse event data. The FDA has received approximately 57,130 adverse event reports for this medication, which is primarily manufactured by Fresenius Kabi Usa, Llc.

The most commonly reported adverse events include Hypotension, Drug Ineffective, Anaphylactic Shock. Of classified reports, 93.8% were designated as serious by the FDA, meaning they involved hospitalization, disability, or other significant medical outcomes. Propofol has a high rate of serious adverse events, with over 93% of reported reactions being serious.

The drug is associated with a wide range of reactions, including cardiovascular, respiratory, and neurological issues. Cardiac arrest and anaphylactic reactions are among the most frequent and severe adverse events.

Patients taking Propofol should monitor for the commonly reported side effects and contact their healthcare provider if they experience any unusual symptoms. Propofol can interact with other drugs, potentially leading to adverse effects. Warnings include the risk of drug interactions and the need for careful monitoring. This analysis is based on voluntary FDA adverse event reports and should not replace professional medical advice.

Safety Score: 85/100

Propofol received a safety concern score of 85/100 (high concern). This is based on a 93.8% serious event ratio across 35,039 classified reports. The score accounts for 57,130 total adverse event reports and 100 distinct reaction types. This high score reflects a significant proportion of serious adverse events in the reporting data.

Top Adverse Reactions

HYPOTENSION2,826 reports
DRUG INEFFECTIVE2,674 reports
ANAPHYLACTIC SHOCK1,969 reports
CARDIAC ARREST1,779 reports
ANAPHYLACTIC REACTION1,647 reports
OFF LABEL USE1,600 reports
DRUG INTERACTION1,520 reports
BRADYCARDIA1,167 reports
TACHYCARDIA1,160 reports
PYREXIA986 reports
ACUTE KIDNEY INJURY973 reports
RHABDOMYOLYSIS864 reports
RENAL FAILURE800 reports
BRONCHOSPASM792 reports
OXYGEN SATURATION DECREASED790 reports
TOXICITY TO VARIOUS AGENTS745 reports
PAIN737 reports
RESPIRATORY FAILURE715 reports
SEROTONIN SYNDROME699 reports
RASH681 reports
NAUSEA675 reports
VOMITING661 reports
DYSPNOEA657 reports
HYPOXIA646 reports
BLOOD PRESSURE DECREASED615 reports
METABOLIC ACIDOSIS610 reports
CONDITION AGGRAVATED596 reports
PROPOFOL INFUSION SYNDROME595 reports
PRODUCT USE IN UNAPPROVED INDICATION578 reports
ERYTHEMA559 reports
PNEUMONIA556 reports
HYPERTENSION537 reports
AGITATION532 reports
SEPSIS527 reports
STATUS EPILEPTICUS524 reports
ANXIETY523 reports
DEATH515 reports
CIRCULATORY COLLAPSE506 reports
RENAL IMPAIRMENT503 reports
URTICARIA481 reports
OVERDOSE479 reports
FOETAL EXPOSURE DURING PREGNANCY448 reports
THROMBOCYTOPENIA430 reports
MATERNAL EXPOSURE DURING PREGNANCY428 reports
INJURY423 reports
RESPIRATORY DEPRESSION420 reports
ATRIAL FIBRILLATION418 reports
SEIZURE417 reports
BLOOD CREATINE PHOSPHOKINASE INCREASED415 reports
RENAL FAILURE ACUTE412 reports
CHILLS408 reports
SHOCK404 reports
CARDIO RESPIRATORY ARREST401 reports
DRUG HYPERSENSITIVITY401 reports
VENTRICULAR TACHYCARDIA389 reports
HYPERKALAEMIA388 reports
HYPERTHERMIA MALIGNANT384 reports
SOMNOLENCE375 reports
VENTRICULAR FIBRILLATION373 reports
MULTIPLE ORGAN DYSFUNCTION SYNDROME372 reports
SEPTIC SHOCK370 reports
POST PROCEDURAL COMPLICATION368 reports
ALANINE AMINOTRANSFERASE INCREASED365 reports
DRUG INEFFECTIVE FOR UNAPPROVED INDICATION361 reports
ASTHENIA360 reports
MULTI ORGAN FAILURE354 reports
PULMONARY OEDEMA352 reports
CONFUSIONAL STATE347 reports
ELECTROCARDIOGRAM QT PROLONGED344 reports
LOSS OF CONSCIOUSNESS344 reports
HYPERSENSITIVITY338 reports
HEADACHE334 reports
RESPIRATORY ARREST333 reports
ANAEMIA329 reports
HAEMODYNAMIC INSTABILITY328 reports
EMOTIONAL DISTRESS327 reports
COMA325 reports
DEPRESSED LEVEL OF CONSCIOUSNESS322 reports
MYOCLONUS320 reports
UNEVALUABLE EVENT320 reports
COUGH317 reports
DIARRHOEA316 reports
DELAYED RECOVERY FROM ANAESTHESIA301 reports
DRUG REACTION WITH EOSINOPHILIA AND SYSTEMIC SYMPTOMS301 reports
EXPOSURE DURING PREGNANCY297 reports
DELIRIUM292 reports
UNRESPONSIVE TO STIMULI290 reports
PREMATURE BABY285 reports
ASPARTATE AMINOTRANSFERASE INCREASED282 reports
STRESS CARDIOMYOPATHY281 reports
FEAR274 reports
DIZZINESS270 reports
ANGIOEDEMA269 reports
FATIGUE266 reports
ACUTE RESPIRATORY DISTRESS SYNDROME265 reports
HEART RATE INCREASED265 reports
TOXIC EPIDERMAL NECROLYSIS261 reports
ENCEPHALOPATHY260 reports
BLOOD CREATININE INCREASED249 reports
ABDOMINAL PAIN243 reports

Key Safety Signals

  • Cardiac arrest and anaphylactic reactions are key safety signals, with high counts and severity.
  • Propofol is frequently reported to cause respiratory depression and failure, indicating potential respiratory risks.
  • Serious reactions such as sepsis, circulatory collapse, and renal failure are also significant safety signals.

Patient Demographics

Adverse event reports by sex: Female: 15,846, Male: 15,311, Unknown: 231. The most frequently reported age groups are age 67 (628 reports), age 54 (526 reports), age 60 (515 reports). These demographics reflect reporting patterns and may not represent the full patient population.

Report Outcomes

Out of 35,039 classified reports for PROPOFOL:

  • Serious: 32,856 reports (93.8%) — includes hospitalization, disability, life-threatening events, or death
  • Non-Serious: 2,183 reports (6.2%)
Serious 93.8%Non-Serious 6.2%

The FDA classifies an adverse event as “serious” if it results in death, hospitalization, disability, congenital anomaly, or requires intervention to prevent permanent damage.

Demographics Breakdown

Reports by Sex

Female15,846 (50.5%)
Male15,311 (48.8%)
Unknown231 (0.7%)

Reports by Age

Age 67628 reports
Age 54526 reports
Age 60515 reports
Age 68515 reports
Age 63512 reports
Age 49511 reports
Age 75511 reports
Age 65497 reports
Age 71496 reports
Age 59494 reports
Age 62491 reports
Age 58489 reports
Age 57485 reports
Age 64483 reports
Age 55466 reports
Age 46438 reports
Age 53435 reports
Age 61435 reports
Age 66435 reports
Age 50434 reports

Demographics reflect voluntary FDA adverse event reporting patterns and may not represent the full patient population.

Drug Interactions & Warnings

Propofol can interact with other drugs, potentially leading to adverse effects. Warnings include the risk of drug interactions and the need for careful monitoring.

What You Should Know

If you are taking Propofol, here are important things to know. The most commonly reported side effects include hypotension, drug ineffective, anaphylactic shock, cardiac arrest, anaphylactic reaction. While many of these may be mild and temporary, you should contact your healthcare provider if any symptoms are severe or persistent. Ensure that Propofol is administered only by trained medical professionals in appropriate settings. Monitor patients closely for signs of respiratory and cardiovascular complications. If you experience a serious adverse reaction, seek emergency medical attention immediately or call 911. You can report side effects to the FDA's MedWatch program at 1-800-FDA-1088.

Regulatory Context

Regulatory oversight is ongoing, with frequent updates to safety information and warnings. Healthcare providers should stay informed about the latest safety data.

Frequently Asked Questions

How many adverse event reports has the FDA received for Propofol?

The FDA has received approximately 57,130 adverse event reports associated with Propofol. These reports come from healthcare professionals, consumers, and manufacturers through the FDA Adverse Event Reporting System (FAERS). Note that the number of reports does not directly indicate the frequency of side effects, as adverse events are voluntarily reported and may be underrepresented.

What are the most commonly reported side effects of Propofol?

The most frequently reported adverse events for Propofol include Hypotension, Drug Ineffective, Anaphylactic Shock, Cardiac Arrest, Anaphylactic Reaction. By volume, the top reported reactions are: Hypotension (2,826 reports), Drug Ineffective (2,674 reports), Anaphylactic Shock (1,969 reports). These figures reflect FDA adverse event reports and may not represent the true incidence rate of these side effects in all patients taking Propofol.

What percentage of Propofol adverse event reports are serious?

Out of 35,039 classified reports, 32,856 (93.8%) were classified as serious and 2,183 as non-serious. The FDA classifies an event as "serious" if it results in death, hospitalization, disability, or other medically significant outcomes. A higher serious-event ratio warrants closer attention but does not necessarily mean the drug is unsafe.

Who reports adverse events for Propofol (by sex)?

Adverse event reports for Propofol break down by patient sex as follows: Female: 15,846, Male: 15,311, Unknown: 231. This distribution reflects reporting patterns rather than actual risk differences between groups. Reporting rates can be influenced by prescribing patterns, disease demographics, and reporting behavior.

What age groups report the most side effects for Propofol?

The most frequently reported age groups for Propofol adverse events are: age 67: 628 reports, age 54: 526 reports, age 60: 515 reports, age 68: 515 reports, age 63: 512 reports. Age-related reporting patterns can reflect both the demographics of the patient population and potential age-related susceptibility to certain side effects.

Who manufactures Propofol?

The primary manufacturer associated with Propofol adverse event reports is Fresenius Kabi Usa, Llc. Multiple manufacturers may produce generic versions of this drug. The manufacturer listed reflects the most frequently reported brand in FDA adverse event data.

What other side effects have been reported for Propofol?

Beyond the most common reactions, other reported adverse events for Propofol include: Off Label Use, Drug Interaction, Bradycardia, Tachycardia, Pyrexia. Less common side effects can still be clinically significant. Patients should report any unusual symptoms to their healthcare provider.

How do I report a side effect from Propofol?

You can report adverse events from Propofol to the FDA through their MedWatch program at www.fda.gov/medwatch, by calling 1-800-FDA-1088, or by completing Form FDA 3500. Healthcare professionals, consumers, and manufacturers can all submit reports. Reporting helps the FDA monitor drug safety after approval.

What is Propofol's safety score and what does it mean?

Propofol has a safety concern score of 85 out of 100 (high concern). This score is calculated from the ratio of serious to non-serious adverse events, the diversity of reported reactions, and the overall volume of reports relative to usage. Propofol has a high rate of serious adverse events, with over 93% of reported reactions being serious.

What are the key safety signals for Propofol?

Key safety signals identified in Propofol's adverse event data include: Cardiac arrest and anaphylactic reactions are key safety signals, with high counts and severity.. Propofol is frequently reported to cause respiratory depression and failure, indicating potential respiratory risks.. Serious reactions such as sepsis, circulatory collapse, and renal failure are also significant safety signals.. These signals are derived from patterns in FDA reports and should be discussed with a healthcare provider for personalized assessment.

Does Propofol interact with other drugs?

Propofol can interact with other drugs, potentially leading to adverse effects. Warnings include the risk of drug interactions and the need for careful monitoring. Always inform your healthcare provider about all medications, supplements, and over-the-counter drugs you are taking before starting Propofol.

What should patients know before taking Propofol?

Ensure that Propofol is administered only by trained medical professionals in appropriate settings. Monitor patients closely for signs of respiratory and cardiovascular complications.

Are Propofol side effects well-documented?

Propofol has 57,130 adverse event reports on file with the FDA. The drug is associated with a wide range of reactions, including cardiovascular, respiratory, and neurological issues. The volume of reports for Propofol reflects both the drug's usage level and the vigilance of the reporting community.

What is the FDA's position on Propofol?

Regulatory oversight is ongoing, with frequent updates to safety information and warnings. Healthcare providers should stay informed about the latest safety data. For the most current regulatory information, check the FDA's drug labeling database or consult your pharmacist.

Related Drugs

Drugs related to PROPOFOL based on therapeutic use, drug class, or shared indications:

MidazolamFentanylLidocaineNitrous oxideSevoflurane
Important Disclaimer: This content is generated by AI analysis of FDA adverse event reports and is provided for informational purposes only. It is not medical advice. Adverse event reports submitted to the FDA do not prove that a medication caused the reported side effect. Always consult your healthcare provider before starting, stopping, or changing any medication. If you experience a serious side effect, contact your doctor or call 911 immediately.