Etomidate (Amidate) is classified as a true hypnotic as apposed to Propofol (Diprivan) which is a non-barbituate sedative. Amidate can possibly cause hypotention/ hypertention or untoward cardiovascular effects but has failed to show this effect significantly in clinical studies.
Diprivan on the other hand, can and has caused hypotention in the clinical setting with a normal-tensive hemodynamically stable patient. When you interject such a patient into a chaotic, unstable scene environment the use of Diprivan can cause some problems. Both drugs work very well, their pharmacokinetc action is slightly different. In the western US, to my knowledge, Propofol is not currently being used in an EMS environment. Milk of Amnesia is a great drug.
