Dangerous Drug: Pentobarbital, Pentobarbital Sodium



Dangerous Drug: Pentobarbital, Pentobarbital Sodium





(pen toe bar’ bi tal)

Nembutal

PREGNANCY CATEGORY D

CONTROLLED SUBSTANCE C-II


Drug Classes

Antiepileptic

Barbiturate

Sedative/hypnotic


Therapeutic Actions

General CNS depressant; barbiturates inhibit impulse conduction in the ascending RAS, depress the cerebral cortex, alter cerebellar function, depress motor output, and can produce excitation, sedation, hypnosis, anesthesia, and deep coma; at anesthetic doses, has antiseizure activity.


Indications



  • Sedative/hypnotic


  • Preanesthetic in pediatric patients


  • Antiepileptic, in anesthetic doses, for emergency control of certain acute seizure episodes (eg, status epilepticus, eclampsia, meningitis, tetanus, toxic reactions to strychnine or local anesthetics)



Available Forms

Injection—50 mg/mL


Dosages

Adults

Use only when prompt action is imperative.



  • IV: Give by slow IV injection, not to exceed 50 mg/min. Initial dose is 100 mg in a 70-kg adult. Wait at least 1 min for full effect. Base dosage on response. Additional small increments may be given up to a total of 200–500 mg. Minimize dosage in seizure states to avoid compounding the depression that may follow seizures.


  • IM: Inject deeply into a muscle mass. Usual adult dose is 150–200 mg. Do not exceed a volume of 5 mL at any site due to tissue irritation.

Pediatric patients

Use caution; barbiturates may produce irritability, aggression, inappropriate tearfulness.

Jul 21, 2016 | Posted by in NURSING | Comments Off on Dangerous Drug: Pentobarbital, Pentobarbital Sodium

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