The use of Penthrox (methoxyflurane) in trauma patients

Penthrox (methoxyflurane) is an inhaled analgesic. It is a non-invasive, lightweight, portable handheld inhaler indicated for the emergency relief of moderate-to-severe pain in conscious adult patients with trauma. It is becoming very popular in the pre-hospital setting and in the emergency department and has been proven to reduce acute pain within 6–10 inhalations. One 3 ml bottle will provide effective analgesic relief for up to 30 minutes (continuous use) or 1 hour (intermittent use). With very few drug interactions and a short half-life, it is the ideal analgesic for conscious patients. However, it is not recommended to use regularly and should not replace a good analgesic approach.