Consumer medicine information

DESFLURANE SANDOZ®

DESFLURANE SANDOZ®

Desflurane

Consumer Medicine Information

WHAT IS IN THIS LEAFLET

What is DESFLURANE SANDOZ®?

What DESFLURANE SANDOZ® is used for

Before you receive DESFLURANE SANDOZ®

  • before you are due to receive it
  • when you must not receive it

Using DESFLURANE SANDOZ®

Side Effects

Product Description

How Can I Obtain More Facts About DESFLURANE SANDOZ®?

Manufacturer

WHAT IS DESFLURANE SANDOZ®

DESFLURANE SANDOZ® is one of a family of drugs called halogenated methylethlyethers which are administered by inhalation by an anaesthetist when you go for surgery. It is a colourless fluid supplied in an amber coloured glass bottle. It is given by your anaesthetist using a vaporiser specifically designed for use with DESFLURANE SANDOZ®.

WHAT DESFLURANE SANDOZ® IS USED FOR

DESFLURANE SANDOZ® is a special mixture of anaesthetic drug used for maintaining heavy sleep during surgery. It is administered by inhalation by your anaesthetist. The medication produces anaesthesia, a loss of consciousness and pain sensations during the surgery.

DESFLURANE SANDOZ® is washed out quickly from the body via the lungs so that recovery from the anaesthetic is rapid once the drug has been stopped.

Your doctor will help you understand the benefits of taking DESFLURANE SANDOZ® during surgery in your case.

BEFORE YOU RECEIVE DESFLURANE SANDOZ®

Before you are due to receive it

You must tell your doctor if:

  • You had previously had any problems with a general anaesthetic.
  • You, or anyone in your family, have had malignant hyperthermia, during or shortly after receiving an anaesthetic (see Side Effects)
  • You have allergies to:
    – DESFLURANE SANDOZ® (if you have had this anaesthetic before and experienced an allergic reaction).
    – Halogenated anaesthetic agents which are breathed in to induce anaesthesia.
  • You have the following medical conditions:
    – heart disease; for example coronary artery disease, high or low blood pressure
    – brain disorder such as tumour, infection, or blood clot
    – any problems with your liver.
    – diabetes
  • You are on the following medications:
    – opioids or narcotic drugs like morphine or pethidine
    – sedatives like benzodiazepines or any sort of sleeping tablets
    – muscle relaxing drugs
    – any other medicines, including medicines that you buy without a prescription.
    These medicines may affect the way your doctor gives you DESFLURANE SANDOZ®.
  • You are pregnant, or suspect you may be pregnant. The safety of DESFLURANE SANDOZ® during pregnancy is not yet known.
  • You are breast-feeding. It is not yet known whether DESFLURANE SANDOZ® is excreted in human milk.

When You Must Not Receive It

DESFLURANE SANDOZ® should not be given to patients who are not suitable for receiving a general anaesthetic.

DESFLURANE SANDOZ® should not be given to patients who are allergic or sensitive to halogenated anaesthetic agents.

DESFLURANE SANDOZ® should not be given to patients who are known or suspected to be susceptible to malignant hyperthermia (see Side Effects).

DESFLURANE SANDOZ® should not be given in patients in whom liver dysfunction, jaundice or unexplained fever, leucocytosis or eosinophilia has occurred after a previous halogenated anaesthetic.

DESFLURANE SANDOZ® is not recommended for mask induction of anaesthesia.

USING DESFLURANE SANDOZ®

DESFLURANE SANDOZ® comesin a glass bottle and is supplied directly to your anaesthetist.

DESFLURANE SANDOZ® is given only by persons trained in the administration of general anaesthesia. It is given using a vaporiser specifically designed and designated for use with DESFLURANE SANDOZ®. A special mask will be placed over your mouth and nose and the medication will be breathed in through the mask. The dose of DESFLURANE SANDOZ® will be adjusted to keep you at the right depth of sleep.

DESFLURANE SANDOZ® may affect your ability to drive or operate machinery and it is advisable to avoid such tasks for a period of 24 hours or longer if necessary. Ask your doctor when you can return to work involving machinery or heavy equipment.

If you are given too much DESFLURANE SANDOZ®

As DESFLURANE SANDOZ® is given under strict supervision, it is unlikely that you will receive too much. However, the anaesthetist can reduce the dose of DESFLURANE SANDOZ® and provide oxygen should your blood pressure be too low or you have difficulty in breathing.

SIDE EFFECTS

People usually wake up quickly after anaesthesia with DESFLURANE SANDOZ®. As with all medicines, unwanted effects sometimes happen.

DESFLURANE SANDOZ® may cause some lowering of blood pressure and breathing rate.

You will not know about these things since you will be asleep but your anaesthetist will adjust the dose of DESFLURANE SANDOZ® as necessary and will give other medicines if needed.

Some people who received DESFLURANE SANDOZ® have noticed the following side effects:

  • cough , spasm of the larynx, inflammation of the pharynx
  • breath-holding, breathing with decreased depth, shortness of breath or stopping breathing
  • salivation
  • high blood pressure
  • rapid or slow heart beat irregular or abnormal heartbeat, or stopping of the heart
  • muscle pain or weakness
  • itchy rash or red skin
  • agitation
  • dizziness, headache, fever, generally unwell
  • conjunctivitis
  • fitting
  • yellowing of the eye or skin
  • spitting out blood
  • shock
  • pain in the stomach area

Nausea and vomiting on waking are common after surgery and general anaesthesia.

After anaesthesia there may be a brief rise in your white blood cell count. Your doctor will monitor this if it happens.

It is possible that DESFLURANE SANDOZ® may cause a very rare group of symptoms known as malignant hyperthermia. The features of this are muscle rigidity, rapid pulse, breathing heavily and quickly, bluish lips and skin, changes in blood pressure and a fever. Your doctor will treat this by stopping the DESFLURANE SANDOZ® and using other medicines as needed.

DESFLURANE SANDOZ® may cause inflammation of the liver in patients who have previously been exposed to halogenated anaesthetic. It may also cause some elevation of glucose levels.

MEDICINE DESCRIPTION

What it looks like:

DESFLURANE SANDOZ® is a colourless liquid supplied in an amber-coloured, plastic coated glass bottle, sealed with a valve assembly and aluminium ferrule, and secured with PET film, containing 240 mL of desflurane.

Ingredients:

Each bottle contains the active substance desflurane, 240mL.

HOW CAN I OBTAIN MORE FACTS ABOUT DESFLURANE SANDOZ®?

Your doctor, anaesthetist and hospital pharmacist can discuss DESFLURANE SANDOZ® with you. If you have any concerns or queries about DESFLURANE SANDOZ® ask them.

Supplier

Sandoz Pty Ltd
ABN 60 075 449 553
54 Waterloo Road
Macquarie Park
NSW 2113
Australia
Tel: 1800 726 369

This leaflet was prepared in 12/2017.

The Australian Registration Number: AUST R 286615

Published by MIMS April 2021