The usual adult dosage of Pentobarbital Sodium is 150 to 200 mg as a single IM injection; the recommended pediatric dosage ranges from 2 to 6 mg/kg as a single IM injection not to exceed 100 mg.

Barbiturates are absorbed in varying degrees following oral, rectal, or parenteral administration. The salts are more rapidly absorbed than are the acids. The onset of action for oral or rectal administration varies from 20 to 60 minutes. For IM administration, the onset of action is slightly faster.

Solutions often contain greater than 300 mg/mL sodium pentobarbital. Intravenous injection in humans and animals results in rapid coma, respiratory depression, hypotension, bradycardia, and hypothermia. These effects lead to prompt induction of asystole and death.

Pentobarbital is injected into a muscle, or into a vein through an IV. A healthcare provider will usually give you this injection. You may be shown how to use pentobarbital at home.

Pentobarbital slows the activity of your brain and nervous system. Pentobarbital is used short-term as a sedative to treat insomnia, or to cause you to fall asleep for surgery. Pentobarbital is also used as an emergency treatment for seizures.

Common side effects may include:

• drowsiness, dizziness;
• loss of balance or coordination;
• nausea, vomiting, constipation;
• overactive reflexes;
• sleep problems (insomnia), nightmares; or.
• feeling restless or excited (especially in children or older adults).

Pentobarbital is a medication used in the management and treatment of several medical conditions including seizures, intracranial pressure control, insomnia, and as a pre-anesthetic in the operating room.

Common Barbiturates available in the U.S.

Phenobarbital can be administered as an injection, a liquid elixir, or tablets. Each has their own speed of taking effect and appropriate dosages. Tablets or elixirs begin to act in about 60 minutes,2 and their duration lasts for 10 to 12 hours,3 depending on the dosage and individual metabolism.

An overdose of phenobarbital can be fatal. Overdose symptoms may include slow or shallow breathing, weak pulse, cold or clammy skin, little or no urination, pinpoint pupils, feeling cold, or fainting. Drinking alcohol with this medicine can cause side effects. This medication may impair your thinking or reactions.

Barbiturate use in conjunction with alcohol can result in severe respiratory depression and overdose deaths.

They have largely been replaced by benzodiazepines and nonbenzodiazepines (“Z-drugs”) in routine medical practice, particularly in the treatment of anxiety and insomnia, due to the significantly lower risk of addiction and overdose and the lack of an antidote for barbiturate overdose.

At fairly low doses, barbiturates may make you seem drunk or intoxicated. Barbiturates are addictive. People who use them become physically dependent on them. Stopping them (withdrawal) can be life-threatening.

For some individuals, one drink a day may be too much. For others it could be 2 to 3 drinks a day. The Center for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) recommends up to one drink per day for women and two drinks per day for men. Anything exceeding that could be considered unhealthy.