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Methoxyflurane - Penthrox
Methoxyflurane is a volatile halogenated anesthetic that provides rapid analgesia and sedation through central nervous system depression.
Methoxyflurane is a volatile halogenated anesthetic that provides rapid analgesia and sedation through central nervous system depression. Used for Acute pain relief in emergency departments and acute care settings, Trauma-related pain management, Procedural analgesia.
At a glance
| Generic name | Methoxyflurane - Penthrox |
|---|---|
| Sponsor | St. Paul's Hospital, Canada |
| Drug class | Volatile halogenated anesthetic |
| Target | GABA receptors, NMDA receptors |
| Modality | Small molecule |
| Therapeutic area | Acute Pain Management |
| Phase | Phase 3 |
Mechanism of action
Methoxyflurane acts as a general anesthetic by enhancing inhibitory GABAergic neurotransmission and inhibiting excitatory glutamatergic signaling in the central nervous system. Penthrox is a low-dose formulation administered via inhalation that produces analgesia and mild sedation at sub-anesthetic concentrations, making it suitable for acute pain relief in emergency and acute care settings without requiring full anesthesia.
Approved indications
- Acute pain relief in emergency departments and acute care settings
- Trauma-related pain management
- Procedural analgesia
Common side effects
- Dizziness
- Nausea
- Headache
- Drowsiness
- Euphoria
Key clinical trials
- Use of the Methoxyflurane as Pain-killer in the Prehospital Management of Acute Myocardial Infarction (PHASE3)
- 3 mL Inhaled Methoxyflurane for Intrauterine Device (IUD) Insertion (PHASE4)
- Efficacy of Inhaled Methoxyflurane (Penthrox) as Adjunct for Urologic Procedures Under Local Anesthetic: A Pilot Study (PHASE2)
- Methoxyflurane for IUD Insertion and Endometrial Biopsy (NA)
- Trial to Assess the Efficacy and Safety During Convective Radiofrequency Water Vapor Thermal Therapy (REZUM) for Benign Prostate Hyperplasia (PHASE3)
- Penthrox in Otolaryngology
- Effectiveness of Penthrox vs Placebo in Sinus Procedures, a Clinical Trial (PHASE1, PHASE2)
- Methoxyflurane Analgesia for Paediatric Injuries (PHASE3)
Primary sources
Every claim on this page is sourced from regulatory or scientific primary sources. See our editorial policy for full methodology.
| Source | Used for |
|---|---|
| ClinicalTrials.gov | Trial enrolment, design, endpoints, results |
Competitive intelligence
For the full competitive landscape — auto-detected comparators, recent regulatory actions across the set, upcoming PDUFA, patent timeline, sponsor landscape:
- Methoxyflurane - Penthrox CI brief — competitive landscape report
- Methoxyflurane - Penthrox updates RSS · CI watch RSS
- St. Paul's Hospital, Canada portfolio CI