Thiopental
Administration
- Type: Barbiturate
- Dosage Forms:
- Routes of Administration: IV
- Common Trade Names:
Adult Dosing
- Rapid anesthesia induction: 210 to 280mg (3 to 4 mg/kg) IV divided in 2 to 4 doses
- Anesthesia maintenance: 25-50mg IV repeated PRN OR continuous IV infusion of 0.2% or 0.4% solution
- Raised ICP: 1.5-3.5 mg/kg IV bolus, repeat PRN
- Seizure: 75-125 mg IV given in single dose
- Seizure due to local anesthetic: 125-250mg IV over 10 min
Pediatric Dosing
- Anesthesia induction:
- Neonate: 3 to 4 mg/kg IV
- 1mo-1yr: 5 to 8 mg/kg IV
- 1-15yo: 5 to 6 mg/kg IV
- Anesthesia maintenance, 1-15yo: 1mg/kg IV repeated PRN
Special Populations
- Pregnancy Rating: C
- Lactation risk: Infant risk minimal
- Renal dosing: for severe impairment, give 75% of usual dose
- Hepatic dosing:
Contraindications
- Allergy to class/drug
- acute intermittent porphyria or variegate porphyria
Adverse Reactions
Serious
- Respiratory depression, apnea, laryngeal spasm
- Myocardial dysfunction
- Hemolytic anemia
- Raised ICP
- Radial neuropathy
Common
- Injection site reaction
Pharmacology
- Half-life: 3-18h
- Metabolism: Hepatic
- Excretion: Renal
Mechanism of Action
- Ultra-short acting barbiturate, GABA-agonist