Pentobarbital
Short-acting barbiturate / From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
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Pentobarbital (US) or pentobarbitone (British and Australian) is a short-acting barbiturate typically used as a sedative, a preanesthetic, and to control convulsions in emergencies.[2] It can also be used for short-term treatment of insomnia but has been largely replaced by the benzodiazepine family of drugs.
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Trade names | Nembutal |
AHFS/Drugs.com | Monograph |
MedlinePlus | a682416 |
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Routes of administration | By mouth, intravenous, intramuscular, rectal |
Drug class | Barbiturate |
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Bioavailability | 70–90% (oral); 90% (rectal) |
Protein binding | 20–45% |
Metabolism | Liver |
Elimination half-life | 15–48 hours |
Excretion | Kidney |
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ECHA InfoCard | 100.000.895 |
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Formula | C11H18N2O3 |
Molar mass | 226.276 g·mol−1 |
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In high doses, pentobarbital causes death by respiratory arrest. It is used for veterinary euthanasia and is used by some US states and the Federal government of the United States for executions of convicted criminals by lethal injection.[3] In some countries and states, it is also used for physician-assisted suicide.[4][5]
Pentobarbital was widely abused and sometimes known as "yellow jackets" due to the yellow capsule of the Nembutal brand. Pentobarbital in oral (pill) form is not commercially available.[3]
Pentobarbital was developed by Ernest H. Volwiler and Donalee L. Tabern [de] at Abbott Laboratories in 1930.