Etomidate

Category: pharmacological

Aliases: Amidate

Pharmacological Mechanism

Imidazole GABA-A positive allosteric modulator — induction agent of choice in hemodynamically unstable patients (preserves blood pressure better than propofol). Single-dose adrenal suppression via 11β-hydroxylase inhibition; not used for ICU infusion.

Half-Life (t½)

IV: 4h

Dosing Guidelines

• IV: Typical 0.3 mg (Range: 0.2–0.4 mg)

Target Organ Systems

• nervous
• cardiovascular
• endocrine

Pathways It Modulates

• GABA-A receptor signaling (activator) — β3-subunit

Chemical Identifiers

• PubChem CID: 667484
• Formula: C14H16N2O2
• Molecular weight: 244.29 g/mol
• InChIKey: NPUKDXXFDDZOKR-LLVKDONJSA-N
• SMILES: CCOC(=O)C1=CN=CN1[C@H](C)C2=CC=CC=C2