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

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

Comments

See Also

References