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Thiopental Sodium

    Brands

    DEA Class;  Rx

    Common Brand Names; Pentothal

    • Thiobarbiturate

    Thiopental is a barbiturate used to induce general anesthesia, treat convulsions, and reduce intracranial pressure.

    • Induction of anaesthesia
    • Treatment of status epilepticus
    • Neuroprotection

    Absolute

    • Allergy to barbiturates
    • Porphyria
    • Constrictive pericarditis
    • Status asthmaticus
    • Severe respiratory compromise

    Relative

    • Severe cardiac dysfunction / shock
    • Hepatic dysfunction
    • Renal dysfunction
    • Myxoedema
    • Addison’s disease
    • Severe anaemia
    • Myasthenia gravis
    • coughing,
    • sneezing,
    • hiccups,
    • slowed breathing,
    • slow heart rate,
    • cardiac arrhythmias,
    • prolonged sleepiness and recovery, and
    • shivering.

    Adverse reactions include respiratory depression, myocardial depression, cardiac arrhythmias, prolonged somnolence and recovery, sneezing, coughing, bronchospasm, laryngospasm and shivering. Anaphylactic and anaphylactoid reactions to Pentothal (thiopental sodium) (Thiopental Sodium for Injection, USP) have been reported. Symptoms, e.g., urticaria, bronchospasm, vasodilation and edema should be managed by conventional means.

    MAY BE HABIT FORMING.

    Thiopental sodium is classified as a Schedule III controlled substance

    Pregnancy Category C. 

    Lactation

    Thiopental sodium readily crosses the placental barrier and small amounts may appear in the milk of nursing mothers following administration of large doses.

    Dosage for Thiopental

    Thiopental is administered intravenously (IV) and the patient is monitored. Dose is adjusted according to the patient’s age, sex, and weight.

    Thiopental sodium

    Injection

    • 500mg powder for solution for injection