Etomidate[3] (USAN, INN, BAN; marketed as Amidate) is a short-acting intravenous anaesthetic agent used for the induction of general anaesthesia and sedation[4] for short procedures such as reduction of dislocated joints, tracheal intubation, cardioversion and electroconvulsive therapy.

[11][12] In addition, etomidate is often used because of its easy dosing profile, limited suppression of ventilation, lack of histamine liberation and protection from myocardial and cerebral ischemia.

[17] Another use for etomidate is to determine speech lateralization in people prior to performing lobectomies to remove epileptogenic centres in the brain.

[20] In addition to its action and use as an anesthetic, etomidate has also been found to directly inhibit the enzymatic biosynthesis of steroid hormones, including corticosteroids in the adrenal gland.

[21][22][23] The U.S. state of Florida used the drug in a death penalty procedure when Mark James Asay, 53, was executed on August 24, 2017.

[25][26] Using a continuous etomidate infusion for sedation of critically ill trauma patients in intensive care units has been associated with increased mortality due to adrenal suppression.

Cortisol levels have been reported to be suppressed up to 72 hours after a single bolus of etomidate in this population at risk for adrenal insufficiency.

In a retrospective review of almost 32,000 people, etomidate, when used for the induction of anaesthesia, was associated 2.5-fold increase in the risk of dying compared with those given propofol.

[38][39] However, only retrospective evidence of this effect exists and prospective studies are needed to measure the clinical impact of this interaction.

Etomidate is associated with a high incidence of burning on injection, postoperative nausea and vomiting, and superficial thrombophlebitis (with rates higher than propofol).

[47] Etomidate has been made into an e-cigarette liquid known as space oil (Chinese: 太空油) in Hong Kong since 2023, and may be mixed with other drugs, including cannabis and ketamine.

134), which states that illegal possession or smoking, inhaling, ingesting and injecting space oil is liable to a maximum penalty of imprisonment of seven years and a fine of HK$1,000,000, while trafficking or illegal importing etomidate is liable to a maximum penalty of life imprisonment and a fine of HK$5,000,000.