Propofol (2,6-diisopropylphenol) is a short-acting, intravenous anesthetic agent, which has been used since the 1990s for inducing general anesthesia. Colonoscopists use propofol at lower concentrations to induce moderate to deep sedation. It is chemically unrelated to other central nervous system medications that are used to sedate patients during colonoscopy such as benzodiazepines. Propofol does not have an analgesic effect; therefore, for moderate sedation, propofol is combined with opiates or barbiturates.
