Question:

Intravenous administration of which anaesthetic drug is most painful among the following?

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Think of the lipid-emulsion agent that needs lidocaine to reduce injection burn.
Updated On: Jun 23, 2026
  • Methohexital
  • Ketamine
  • Propofol
  • Etomidate
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The Correct Option is C

Solution and Explanation

Step 1: Pain on injection of an IV induction agent depends on its formulation and the irritant nature of the vehicle.
Step 2: Propofol is formulated as an oil-in-water emulsion (soybean oil, egg lecithin and glycerol). This lipid emulsion causes pain on injection, particularly when given into a small vein.
Step 3: The pain can be reduced by injecting into a large vein, pre-treating with lidocaine, or mixing lidocaine with propofol. Rarely, thrombophlebitis can occur.
Step 4: Methohexital, ketamine and etomidate cause less injection pain (etomidate can sting but propofol is classically the most painful), so propofol is the correct answer.
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