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Sojourn Side Effects

Generic name: sevoflurane

Medically reviewed by Drugs.com. Last updated on Dec 17, 2021.

Note: This document contains side effect information about sevoflurane. Some of the dosage forms listed on this page may not apply to the brand name Sojourn.

In Summary

More frequent side effects include: tachycardia. See below for a comprehensive list of adverse effects.

For the Consumer

Applies to sevoflurane: inhalation liquid

Side effects requiring immediate medical attention

Along with its needed effects, sevoflurane (the active ingredient contained in Sojourn) 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

  • 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

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

Rare

  • 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

Side effects not requiring immediate medical attention

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

  • Shivering
  • sleepiness or unusual drowsiness

Less common

  • 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

Managing side effects (general information)

For Healthcare Professionals

Applies to sevoflurane: inhalation liquid

General

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]

More about Sojourn (sevoflurane)

Patient resources

Other brands
Ultane

Professional resources

Related treatment guides

References

1. "Product Information. Ultane (sevoflurane)." Abbott Pharmaceutical, Abbott Park, IL.

2. Cerner Multum, Inc. "UK Summary of Product Characteristics." O 0

3. Cerner Multum, Inc. "Australian Product Information." O 0

Further information

Always consult your healthcare provider to ensure the information displayed on this page applies to your personal circumstances.

Some side effects may not be reported. You may report them to the FDA.

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