Raw research findings for this medication. Mostly single studies, not curated or confirmed robust.
Isoflurane is an inhaled anaesthetic: breathed in as a vapour, it keeps up general anaesthesia during surgery once a patient is asleep. It is inexpensive and widely used, in human and veterinary medicine. It is sold as Forane, among other names.
As for all inhaled anaesthetics of this group, the important genes are RYR1 and CACNA1S, which make calcium channels in skeletal muscle. Rare variants in them cause malignant hyperthermia susceptibility: on exposure, the muscles release calcium uncontrollably, with a dangerous rise in temperature and muscle breakdown. Over 40 RYR1 variants are recognised as causative. CPIC has published a guideline on RYR1, CACNA1S and these anaesthetics, and the US FDA lists the pair.
Clinical guidelines that name a gene for Isoflurane. They sort people into groups by the gene copies they carry.
Every published finding on gene variants and Isoflurane. Upload your DNA file to see which of these rows apply to you.
PharmGKB weighs all studies of a variant and rates how strong the evidence is, from 1A (strongest) to 4.
RYR1 rs118192172: Level 1A · replicated. Toxicity: Malignant Hyperthermia. 51.
RYR1 rs121918593: Level 1A · replicated. Toxicity: Malignant Hyperthermia. 35.
RYR1 rs121918592: Level 1A · replicated. Toxicity: Malignant Hyperthermia. 27.
RYR1 rs118192161: Level 1A · replicated. Toxicity: Malignant Hyperthermia. 26.
Study findings and evidence levels: PharmGKB (CC BY-SA 4.0). Guidelines: CPIC and DPWG, as bundled in PharmCAT. Most studies were done mainly in people of European ancestry.
More drugs from the same category
Ethrane (Inhalational Anesthetics)
Halothane (Inhalational Anesthetics)
Nitrous Oxide (Inhalational Anesthetics)
Not a prescribing recommendation. This page is educational information about pharmacogenomic research and clinical guidelines - it is not medical or dosing advice, and not a prediction of how any medication will work for you. Never start, stop, or change a medication or dose based on it; talk to your doctor or pharmacist, who can order clinical-grade testing if appropriate.
Content updated September 2026.
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