Aliflurane

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Aliflurane

Aliflurane is a chemical compound that was once used as an inhalational anesthetic. It is a fluorinated ether that was developed in the mid-20th century but is no longer in common use due to its side effects and the development of safer alternatives.

History

Aliflurane was first synthesized in the 1950s as part of a wave of new anesthetic drugs that were being developed at the time. It was initially hailed as a promising new drug due to its high potency and low solubility, which allowed for rapid induction and recovery from anesthesia. However, it soon became apparent that aliflurane had a number of serious side effects, including cardiac arrhythmias, hepatic dysfunction, and neurotoxicity. These side effects, combined with the development of safer alternatives, led to aliflurane being phased out of clinical use by the end of the 20th century.

Pharmacology

Aliflurane is a halogenated ether, a class of compounds that also includes other anesthetic drugs such as desflurane and sevoflurane. Like other ethers, aliflurane works by interacting with GABA receptors in the brain, enhancing the effect of the inhibitory neurotransmitter GABA and thereby inducing a state of general anesthesia.

Despite its high potency, aliflurane has a number of drawbacks that have led to its disuse. It is highly lipophilic, which means it can accumulate in fatty tissues and lead to prolonged recovery times. It is also metabolized by the liver into potentially toxic compounds, which can cause hepatic dysfunction and other side effects.

Current status

Today, aliflurane is rarely used in clinical practice. It is occasionally used in veterinary medicine, but even in this context, it is generally considered a drug of last resort. The development of newer, safer anesthetic drugs has largely rendered aliflurane obsolete.

See also

• Anesthesia
• Inhalational anesthetic
• Halogenated ether