Propofol Concentration
Propofol is available as a 1% solution, which means 1 mL contains 10 mg of propofol. 1, 2
Formulation Details
The standard propofol formulation contains:
- 10 mg/mL propofol (1% solution) 1, 2
- 10% soybean oil 2
- 2.25% glycerol 2
- 1.2% purified egg phosphatide 2
Clinical Dosing Context
Understanding this concentration is critical for safe administration:
- Initial bolus doses typically range from 20-40 mg (2-4 mL), reduced to 10-15 mg (1-1.5 mL) in elderly patients 3, 4
- Maintenance boluses of 10-20 mg (1-2 mL) are administered with minimum 20-30 second intervals 5
- For ICU sedation, maintenance infusion rates of 5-50 mcg/kg/min (0.3-3 mg/kg/h) are typical 3
Important Safety Considerations
- Dilution: If dilution is necessary, use only 5% Dextrose Injection and never dilute below 2 mg/mL (0.2%) concentration 1
- Caloric content: Each mL provides 1.1 kcal from the lipid emulsion, which must be factored into nutritional calculations 3
- Single-use vials: Must be used within 12 hours of opening and discarded thereafter, even with antimicrobial additives 1