Comparative Pharmacology
Head-to-head clinical analysis: HALOTHANE versus KETAMINE HCL.
Peer-Reviewed Evidence
Head-to-head clinical analysis: HALOTHANE versus KETAMINE HCL.
HALOTHANE vs KETAMINE HCL
Comparing the clinical profiles, pharmacokinetic behaviors, and safety indices of these two therapeutic agents.
Halothane is a volatile halogenated hydrocarbon anesthetic that acts as a positive allosteric modulator of GABA-A receptors and glycine receptors, and inhibits NMDA and nicotinic acetylcholine receptors, leading to neuronal hyperpolarization and general anesthesia.
Noncompetitive NMDA receptor antagonist; blocks glutamate binding, and modulates opioid receptors, monoaminergic receptors, and voltage-gated calcium channels.
Induction: 0.5-3% in oxygen or oxygen-nitrous oxide mixture, titrated to effect; Maintenance: 0.5-2% in oxygen or oxygen-nitrous oxide mixture.
Induction: 1-2 mg/kg IV; Maintenance: 0.5-1 mg/kg IV or 10-30 mcg/kg/min IV infusion; Subanesthetic: 0.1-0.5 mg/kg IV; Analgesic: IM 2-4 mg/kg; Intranasal 1-3 mg/kg. Frequency: single doses or continuous infusion per clinical need.
None Documented
None Documented
Clinical Note
moderateHalothane + Torasemide
"The risk or severity of adverse effects can be increased when Halothane is combined with Torasemide."
Clinical Note
moderateHalothane + Etacrynic acid
"The risk or severity of adverse effects can be increased when Halothane is combined with Etacrynic acid."
Clinical Note
moderateHalothane + Furosemide
"The risk or severity of adverse effects can be increased when Halothane is combined with Furosemide."
Clinical Note
moderateHalothane + Bumetanide
Terminal elimination half-life approximately 5-10 hours post-anesthesia, with a slower terminal phase (up to 3 days) due to redistribution from fat stores. Clinically, washout is rapid initially but prolonged exposure in obese patients may lead to detectable levels for days.
Terminal elimination half-life: 2–4 hours (alpha: 10–15 min, beta: 2.5–4 hr); prolonged in hepatic impairment and with repeated dosing (up to 12–24 hr for active metabolite norketamine).
Primarily eliminated via pulmonary excretion (60-80% unchanged); approximately 20% metabolized in liver via CYP2E1, with metabolites excreted renally (trifluoroacetic acid, chloride, bromide). Only about 0.5% excreted unchanged in urine. Fecal excretion negligible.
Renal: 90% as metabolites (norketamine, dehydronorketamine, hydroxylated derivatives) and 4% unchanged; biliary/fecal: 3%; minor pulmonary exhalation.
Category C
Category C
General Anesthetic
General Anesthetic
"The risk or severity of adverse effects can be increased when Halothane is combined with Bumetanide."