Nembutal Sodium
Nembutal (pentobarbital sodium) is a barbiturate that acts as a depressant, or sedative, used short-term to treat insomnia. Nembutal is also used as an emergency treatment for seizures, and to cause patients to fall asleep for surgery. Nembutal is available in generic form.
What Are Side Effects of Nembutal?
Common side effects of Nembutal include:
- problems with memory or concentration,
- excitement,
- irritability,
- aggression (especially in children or older adults),
- confusion,
- loss of balance or coordination,
- nightmares,
- nausea,
- vomiting,
- constipation,
- headache,
- drowsiness,
- “hangover” effect (drowsiness the day after a dose),
- agitation,
- nervousness,
- insomnia,
- anxiety,
- dizziness,
- low blood pressure,
- injection site reactions, or
- skin rash.
Seek medical attention immediately if you suffer from any serious side effects of Nembutal such as:
- hallucinations,
- weak or shallow breathing,
- slow heart rate,
- weak pulse, or
- feeling like you might pass out.
Dosage for Nembutal
Dosage of Nembutal is determined by the patient’s age, weight, and condition.
What Drugs, Substances, or Supplements Interact with Nembutal?
Nembutal may interact with other medications, including blood thinners, doxycycline, other seizure medications, MAO inhibitors, griseofulvin, birth control pills, hormone replacement estrogens, or steroids. Tell your doctor all medications you are taking.
Nembutal During Pregnancy and Breastfeeding
Do not use Nembutal if you are pregnant. It could harm a fetus. Nembutal may cause addiction or withdrawal symptoms in a newborn if the mother uses the medication during pregnancy. Nembutal can pass into breast milk and may harm a nursing baby. Do not use this medication without telling your doctor if you are breastfeeding. Nembutal may be habit-forming. Do not stop using Nembutal suddenly after using it long-term, or you could have withdrawal symptoms.
Additional Information
Our Nembutal Side Effects Drug Center provides a comprehensive view of available drug information on the potential side effects when taking this medication.
The barbiturates are nonselective central nervous system depressants which are primarily used as sedative hypnotics and also anticonvulsants in subhypnotic doses. The barbiturates and their sodium salts are subject to control under the Federal Controlled Substances Act (See “Drug Abuse and Dependence” section).
The sodium salts of amobarbital, pentobarbital, phenobarbital, and secobarbital are available as sterile parenteral solutions.
Barbiturates are substituted pyrimidine derivatives in which the basic structure common to these drugs is barbituric acid, a substance which has no central nervous system (CNS) activity. CNS activity is obtained by substituting alkyl, alkenyl, or aryl groups on the pyrimidine ring.
NEMBUTAL Sodium Solution (pentobarbital sodium injection) is a sterile solution for intravenous or intramuscular injection. Each mL contains pentobarbital sodium 50 mg, in a vehicle of propylene glycol, 40%, alcohol, 10% and water for injection, to volume. The pH is adjusted to approximately 9.5 with hydrochloric acid and/or sodium hydroxide.
NEMBUTAL (pentobarbital) Sodium is a short-acting barbiturate, chemically designated as sodium 5-ethyl-5-(1-methylbutyl) barbiturate. The structural formula for pentobarbital sodium is:
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The sodium salt occurs as a white, slightly bitter powder which is freely soluble in water and alcohol but practically insoluble in benzene and ether.
