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

See Also

• Barbiturates
• Barbiturate toxicity, Barbiturate withdrawal

References

Authors

Claire