Dangerous Drug: Secobarbital Sodium(see koe bar’ bi tal)
Seconal Sodium
PREGNANCY CATEGORY D
CONTROLLED SUBSTANCE C-II
Drug Classes
Antiepileptic
Barbiturate (short-acting)
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 (especially with subanesthetic doses with pain), sedation, hypnosis, anesthesia, and deep coma; at anesthetic doses, has antiepileptic activity.
Indications
Intermittent use as a sedative, hypnotic, or preanesthetic medication
Contraindications and Cautions
Contraindicated with hypersensitivity to barbiturates; manifest or latent porphyria; marked liver impairment; nephritis; severe respiratory distress, respiratory disease with dyspnea, obstruction, or cor pulmonale; previous addiction to sedative-hypnotic drugs (drug may be ineffective, and use may contribute to further addiction); pregnancy (readily crosses placenta and has caused fetal damage, neonatal withdrawal syndrome).
Use cautiously with acute or chronic pain (drug may cause paradoxical excitement or mask important symptoms); seizure disorders (abrupt discontinuation of daily doses can result in status epilepticus); lactation (has caused drowsiness in breast-feeding infants); fever, hyperthyroidism, diabetes mellitus, severe anemia, pulmonary or cardiac disease, status asthmaticus, shock, uremia; impaired liver or renal function, debilitation.
Available Forms
Capsules—100 mg
Dosages
Adults
Adjust dosage on basis of age, weight, condition.
Preoperative sedation: 200–300 mg PO 1–2 hr before surgery.
Bedtime hypnotic: 100 mg PO at bedtime; do not use longer than 2 wk.
Pediatric patients
Warning Barbiturates may produce irritability, excitability, inappropriate tearfulness, and aggression.
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