Etomidate, known as a clinical anesthetic, is appearing increasingly in illegal e-cigarettes in Asia, including Singapore.
A study published in the Journal of Analytical Toxicology examined the illegal usage patterns of etomidate, an ultra-short-acting, non-barbiturate sedative and clinical anesthetic, in Singapore. The substance has euphoric effects and is addictive in large quantities, and it is increasingly being mixed into illegal e-cigarette products in Asia, posing serious health risks to users.
In Singapore, etomidate was first detected in 2024 in so-called “Kpods” e-cigarette cartridges. During a detailed analysis of urine samples taken from suspected drug users between October 2024 and December 2025, the presence of the substance was confirmed in 898 samples, and in approximately 41.9% of the positive samples, etomidate was the only active ingredient detected.
Researchers also drew attention to the fact that after China classified etomidate as a controlled substance on October 1, 2023, structural analogs such as metomidate, propoxate, butomidate, and CF3-etomidate quickly appeared on the black market as substitutes.
In brief
- Etomidate is known as a clinical anesthetic, but its use is spreading in Asia by being mixed into illegal e-liquid.
- It first appeared in Singapore in 2024 in so-called “Kpods” devices.
- The substance was detected in 898 cases out of urine samples taken from suspects, and it was exclusively present in 41.9% of those cases.
- Following the Chinese ban, various structural analogs also appeared on the market.
Source: PubMed (pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov)
This summary was generated by artificial intelligence based on the original article.