Pentobarbital Sodium Publisher



Nematbakhsh M^{1, 2} ; Abdollahi M^{1, 2}
Source: Encyclopedia of Toxicology# Fourth Edition: Volume 1-9 Published:2023

Abstract

Pentobarbital is a short-acting barbiturate used as a hypnotic and anticonvulsant as the sodium salt. It has been used in the short-term management of insomnia and premedication in anesthetic procedures and is usually given orally. Pentobarbital is commonly used as an anesthetic in veterinary medicine and small animal studies. Human pentobarbital poisoning occurs mainly as a result of abuse or suicidal attempts. Pentobarbital showed carcinogenic but not genotoxic or mutagenic effects in animals. Pentobarbital exerts minimal effects on the terrestrial organism. © 2024 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.