25.04 Pentobarbital (Nembutal)
Generic Name
Pentobarbital
Trade/Brand Name
Nembutal
Indication
- Short term management of insomnia
- Anesthesia
- Emergency treatment of seizures
Action
- Depress sensory cortex, motor activity
- Alters cerebellar function
- Produces drowsiness, sedation, hypnosis
Therapeutic Class
- Sedative
- Hypnotic
- Anticonvulsant
Pharmacologic Class
Short-acting barbiturate
Nursing Considerations
- High doses can cause death
- Contraindicated
- Hypersensitivity
- Porphyria
- Monitor
- Hemodynamics
- Respiratory status
- Mechanical ventilation
- Hemodynamics
- Avoid use in geriatric patients
- Use caution
- Depression
- Hepatic impairment
- Renal impairment