Sevoflurane Side Effects

Medically reviewed by Drugs.com. Last updated on Jan 25, 2025.

Applies to sevoflurane: inhalation liquid.

Serious side effects of sevoflurane

Along with its needed effects, sevoflurane may cause some unwanted effects. Although not all of these side effects may occur, if they do occur they may need medical attention.

Check with your doctor or nurse immediately if any of the following side effects occur while taking sevoflurane:

More common side effects

• blurred vision
• chest pain, tightness, or discomfort
• choking
• confusion
• dizziness, faintness, or lightheadedness when getting up suddenly from a lying or sitting position
• fast, pounding, or irregular heartbeat or pulse
• lightheadedness, dizziness, or fainting
• slow or irregular heartbeat
• sweating
• trouble breathing
• unable to speak
• unusual tiredness or weakness

Less common side effects

• low body temperature
• not breathing
• pale or blue lips, fingernails, or skin
• weak or feeble pulse

Rare side effects

• bleeding gums
• blood in the urine or stools
• body aches or pain
• chills
• cough
• coughing up blood
• decrease in frequency of urination
• decrease in urine volume
• difficulty in swallowing
• difficulty in passing urine (dribbling)
• extremely shallow or slow breathing
• eye pain
• fainting
• general feeling of illness
• headache
• hoarseness
• increased menstrual flow or vaginal bleeding
• nausea
• noisy breathing
• nosebleeds
• painful urination
• paralysis
• pinpoint red spots on skin
• prolonged bleeding from cuts
• red or dark brown urine
• red or black, tarry stools
• sore throat
• stuffy or runny nose
• tender, swollen glands in the neck
• trouble in swallowing
• unusual bleeding or bruising
• voice changes

Incidence not known

• confusion as to time, place, or person
• dark urine
• hallucinations
• high fever
• hives, itching, or skin rash
• holding false beliefs that cannot be changed by fact
• increased blood pressure
• increased thirst
• light-colored stools
• lower back or side pain
• no blood pressure or pulse
• puffiness or swelling of the eyelids or around the eyes, face, lips, or tongue
• restlessness
• rigid muscles
• seizures
• shakiness
• sleepiness
• slow to respond
• slurred speech
• stomach pain, continuing
• stopping of the heart
• swelling of the face, fingers, lower legs
• unconsciousness
• unpleasant breath odor
• unusual excitement, nervousness, or restlessness
• upper right abdominal or stomach pain
• vomiting of blood
• yellow eyes and skin

Other side effects of sevoflurane

Some side effects of sevoflurane may occur that usually do not need medical attention. These side effects may go away during treatment as your body adjusts to the medicine. Also, your health care professional may be able to tell you about ways to prevent or reduce some of these side effects.

Check with your health care professional if any of the following side effects continue or are bothersome or if you have any questions about them:

More common side effects

• shivering
• sleepiness or unusual drowsiness

Less common side effects

• clumsiness
• problems with movement
• watering of the mouth

Incidence not known

• burning, dry, or itching eyes
• change in vision
• discharge, excessive tearing
• hiccups
• impaired vision
• lack or loss of strength
• redness, pain, swelling of the eye, eyelid, or inner lining of eyelid

For healthcare professionals

Applies to sevoflurane: inhalation liquid.

General adverse events

The most common adverse events were nausea, vomiting, hypotension, agitation, and cough.^[Ref]

Gastrointestinal

• Very common (10% or more): Nausea (25%), vomiting (18%)
• Common (1% to 10%): Increased salivation
• Uncommon (0.1% to 1%): Dry mouth^[Ref]

Cardiovascular

• Very common (10% or more): Hypotension (11%), bradycardia
• Common (1% to 10%): Tachycardia, hypertension
• Uncommon (0.1% to 1%): Arrhythmia, ventricular extrasystoles, supraventricular extrasystoles, complete AV block, bigeminy, inverted T wave, atrial fibrillation, atrial arrhythmia, second degree AV block, S-T depressed, extrasystoles
• Frequency not reported: QT prolongation, torsade de pointes
• Postmarketing reports: Cardiac arrest^[Ref]

Respiratory

• Very common (10% or more): Cough increased (11%),
• Common (1% to 10%): Laryngospasm, airway obstruction, breath holding, apnea, respiratory disorder
• Uncommon (0.1% to 1%): Sputum increased, hypoxia, wheezing, bronchospasm, hyperventilation, pharyngitis, hiccup, hypoventilation, dyspnea, stridor, hypoxia, asthma
• Postmarketing reports: Pulmonary edema^[Ref]

Psychiatric

• Very common (10% or more): Agitation (up to 15%)
• Uncommon (0.1% to 1%): Crying, nervousness, confusion, insomnia, confusional state^[Ref]

Nervous system

• Common (1% to 10%): Somnolence, dizziness, movement
• Uncommon (0.1% to 1%): Syncope, hypertonia, taste perversion
• Postmarketing reports: Seizures, dystonia^[Ref]

Other

• Common (1% to 10%): Shivering, fever, hypothermia, headache, blood fluoride increased
• Uncommon (0.1% to 1%): Asthenia, pain, fluorosis,
• Rare (less than 0.1%): Malignant hyperthermia^[Ref]

Hematologic

• Common (1% to 10%): White blood cell count abnormal
• Uncommon (0.1% to 1%): Hemorrhage, leukocytosis, thrombocytopenia, leukopenia
• Postmarketing reports: Transient elevations in white blood cell count^[Ref]

Hepatic

• Common (1% to 10%): Liver function test abnormal
• Uncommon (0.1% to 1%): Increases in AST, increases in ALT, bilirubinemia
• Postmarketing reports: Hepatic dysfunction, hepatitis, jaundice, hepatic necrosis, hepatic failure, transient elevations in liver function tests^[Ref]

Metabolic

• Common (1% to 10%): Blood glucose abnormal
• Uncommon (0.1% to 1%): Increases in LDH, increases in alkaline phosphatase, hypophosphatemia, acidosis, hyperglycemia
• Postmarketing reports: Transient elevations in glucose^[Ref]

Renal

• Uncommon (0.1% to 1%): Increases in BUN, increases in creatinine, glycosuria, albuminuria,
• Frequency not reported: Mild impairment of renal concentrating ability
• Postmarketing reports: Acute renal failure^[Ref]

Ocular

• Uncommon (0.1% to 1%): Amblyopia, conjunctivitis^[Ref]

Genitourinary

• Uncommon (0.1% to 1%): Urination impaired, urine abnormality, urinary retention, oliguria^[Ref]

Dermatologic

• Uncommon (0.1% to 1%): Pruritus, rash^[Ref]

Hypersensitivity

• Postmarketing reports: Allergic reactions, urticaria, bronchospasm, anaphylactic or anaphylactoid reaction, hypersensitivity (including contact dermatitis, rash, dyspnea, wheezing, chest discomfort, swelling face, or anaphylactic reaction)^[Ref]

Musculoskeletal

• Postmarketing reports: Muscle twitching^[Ref]

Further information

Sevoflurane side effects can vary depending on the individual. Always consult your healthcare provider to ensure the information displayed on this page applies to your personal circumstances.

Note: Medication side effects may be underreported. If you are experiencing side effects that are not listed, submit a report to the FDA by following this guide.

Medical Disclaimer