Propofol hemisuccinate suppresses cortical spreading depression

► Propofol hemisuccinate (PHS) is a water-soluble prodrug of propofol. ► PHS suppresses cortical spreading depression at doses that do not cause anesthesia. ► The effect of PHS was similar to that of the NMDA receptor antagonist dizocilpine. ► Propofol or its prodrug PHS have promise in the treatment of migraine.