Pentobarbital is an oxybarbiturate which is no longer available at anaesthetic doses, but used as an euthansia agent. It causes a rapid onset of anaesthesia (40-120s) but has a longer duration of action compared with thiopental (1-2 hours). Recovery is dependent on hepatic metabolism. Its main indication of use is for the treatment of intractable seizures, long term sedation in ICU and euthansia. | Pentobarbital is an oxybarbiturate which is no longer available at anaesthetic doses, but used as an euthansia agent. It causes a rapid onset of anaesthesia (40-120s) but has a longer duration of action compared with thiopental (1-2 hours). Recovery is dependent on hepatic metabolism. Its main indication of use is for the treatment of intractable seizures, long term sedation in ICU and euthansia. |