Clinical evaluation of etomidate, an ultrashortacting nonbarbiturate hypnotic agent, shows it to be useful for anesthetic induction in adults. It produces sleep in 1 arm-brain circulation time, metabolites apparently peaking at 7 minutes postinjection. Cardiovascular and respiratory systems appear minimally affected and there is no indication of organ toxicity or other biochemical or hematologic drug-induced disturbances. Moderate pain on injection at some sites and transient myoclonia were the principal disadvantages observed.