Medical Information Only: This medication is not sold on this site. The information provided is for reference purposes only. Please consult your local physician or pharmacist for treatment.

Ultiva: Full Drug Profile

Medically reviewed by Min Clinic Staff | Updated: January 2026

Ultiva - General Information

Ultiva (marketed by Abbott as Ultiva®) is a potent ultra short-acting synthetic opioid analgesic drug. It is given to patients during surgery to relieve pain and as an adjunct to an anaesthetic. Ultiva is a specific ¼-opioid receptor agonist. Hence, it causes a reduction in sympathetic nervous system tone, respiratory depression and analgesia.

 

Pharmacology of Ultiva

Ultiva is an opioid agonist with rapid onset and peak effect and ultra-short duration of action. The opioid activity of remifentanil is antagonized by opioid antagonists such as naloxone. The analgesic effects of remifentanil are rapid in onset and offset. Its effects and side effects are dose dependent and similar to other opioids. Ultiva in humans has a rapid blood-brain equilibration half-time of 1 ± 1 minutes (mean ± SD) and a rapid onset of action.

 

Ultiva for patients

 

Ultiva Interactions

In animals the duration of muscle paralysis from succinylcholine is not prolonged by remifentanil.

Remifentanil clearance is not altered by concomitant administration of thiopental, isoflurane, propofol, or temazepam during anesthesia. In vitro studies with atracurium, mivacurium, esmolol, echothiophate, neostigmine, physostigmine, and midazolam revealed no inhibition of remifentanil hydrolysis in whole human blood by these drugs.

 

Ultiva Contraindications

Due to the presence of glycine in the formulation, ULTIVA is contraindicated for epidural or intrathecal administration. ULTIVA is also contraindicated in patients with known hypersensitivity to fentanyl analogs.

 

Additional information about Ultiva

Ultiva Indication: For use during the induction and maintenance of general anesthesia. Mechanism Of Action: Ultiva is a µ-opioid agonist with rapid onset and peak effect, and short duration of action. The µ-opioid activity of remifentanil is antagonized by opioid antagonists such as naloxone. Drug Interactions: Not Available Food Interactions: Not Available Generic Name: Remifentanil Synonyms: Remifentanyl Drug Category: Analgesics, Opioid; Anesthetics, Intravenous; Hypnotics and Sedatives Drug Type: Small Molecule; Approved Other Brand Names containing Remifentanil: Ultiva; Absorption: Not Available Toxicity (Overdose): Not Available Protein Binding: 70% (bound to plasma proteins) Biotransformation: By hydrolysis of the propanoic acid-methyl ester linkage by nonspecific blood and tissue esterases. Half Life: 1-20 minutes Dosage Forms of Ultiva: Powder, for solution Intravenous Chemical IUPAC Name: methyl 1-(3-methoxy-3-oxopropyl)-4-(phenyl-propanoylamino)piperidine-4-carboxylate Chemical Formula: C20H28N2O5 Remifentanil on Wikipedia: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Remifentanil Organisms Affected: Humans and other mammals