Thiopental is a drug used to initiate the anesthetic process, reduce pressure in the brain due to an injury or certain conditions, or treat status epilepticus. This medicine will be given at the hospital by a doctor or medical officer under the supervision of a doctor.
Thiopental belongs to the class of drugs called barbiturates. This drug works by suppressing the activity and work of the central nervous system. This way of working will have a relaxing effect, so that anesthetic and surgical procedures can be carried out.
Thiopental trademarks: Thiopental (Ber) G, Thiopental Sodium, Tiopol.
What is Thiopental
| class | Prescription drug |
| Category | Anticonvulsants ( anticonvulsants ) class of barbiturates |
| Benefit | As an anesthetic before surgery, treat status epilepticus, and reduce intracranial pressure due to certain medical conditions, such as head injuries. |
| Used by | Adults and children |
| Thiopental for pregnant and lactating women |
Category C: Studies in animal models have shown an adverse effect on the fetus, but there have been no controlled studies in pregnant women.
Drugs should only be used if the expected benefit outweighs the risk to the fetus. Thiopental can be absorbed into breast milk so it should not be used in nursing mothers. |
| Drug form | Inject |
Warning Before Using Thiopental
Thiopental should be used in a hospital by a doctor or medical personnel under the supervision of a doctor. There are several things that must be considered before using thiopental, namely:
- Tell your doctor about any history of allergies you have. Thiopental should not be given to patients who are allergic to it or to other barbiturate classes of drugs, such as phenobarbital .
- Tell your doctor if you have porphyria or severe respiratory problems. Thiopental should not be given to patients with these conditions.
- Tell your doctor if you have asthma , severe anemia, thyroid disease , myasthenia gravis, electrolyte disturbances , kidney disease, liver disease, heart disease, muscle disorders, adrenal gland disease , or lung disease .
- Tell your doctor if you have or have recently had a head injury or brain tumor .
- Tell your doctor if you are pregnant, breastfeeding or planning a pregnancy.
- Tell your doctor if you are taking certain medications, supplements or herbal products.
- Follow your doctor's recommendations before, during and after thiopental injections. The doctor will carry out regular supervision and monitoring of the condition.
- Tell your doctor right away if you have an allergic drug reaction , serious side effects, or overdose after using thiopental.
Dosage and Rules for Using Thiopental
Thiopental is given by injection into a vein (intravenously). The dose of thiopental will be adjusted to the condition, age, and response of the patient's body to treatment. In children, the dose of thiopental will be determined by the doctor according to their weight (BB).
The following is the distribution of thiopental doses based on their intended use:
Purpose: As an anesthetic before surgery
- Adult: 100–150 mg given preoperatively. The dose can be repeated after 1 minute depending on the patient's body response to the drug. Maximum dose of 500 mg.
- Children: 2–7 mg/kg given before surgery. If needed, the dose may be repeated after 1 minute of the first injection. Dosage does not exceed 7 mg/kg.
Purpose: Treat status epilepticus
- Adult: 75–125 mg (equivalent to 3–5 ml of 2.5% thiopental solution), administered as soon as convulsions occur.
- Children: 5 mg/kg given by slow IV injection.
Goal: Lowering intracranial pressure
- Adult : 1.5–3.5 mg/kgBB.
- Children aged ≥3 months : 5-10 mg/kgBW injected directly into a vein and followed by an infusion of 1-4 mg/kgBW per hour.
How to Use Thiopental Properly
Injectable Thiopental will be given directly by a doctor or medical personnel under the supervision of a doctor. Thiopental will be injected directly into a vein (intravenously) or can also be through an IV.
During the thiopental injection, the doctor will carry out close monitoring by monitoring the patient's breathing, blood pressure, oxygen levels, and kidney function. Follow all the doctor's instructions while undergoing treatment with injectable thiopental so that the effectiveness of the treatment is maximized.
Thiopental Interactions with Other Drugs
The use of injectable thiopental with certain drugs can cause drug interaction effects, such as:
- Increased risk of developing severe respiratory disorders (respiratory depression) which can be fatal if used with opioid class drugs
- Decreased levels of anticoagulant drugs, such as dicumarol or warfarin
- Increased risk of thiopental levels and effects when used with antidepressants, sedatives , or nitrous oxide
- Increased blood pressure lowering effect when used with antihypertensive drugs
- Increased drowsiness when used with antipsychotic drugs
- Decreased levels and effectiveness of thiopental when used with metoclopramide or droperidol
- Increased risk of heart rhythm disturbances and low blood pressure when used with MAOI class drugs , such as selegiline
In addition, the use of herbal medicines such as St. St. John's wort , kava-kava, or valerian, can prolong the effects of the drug thiopental. Therefore, the use of all types of herbal medicine should be discontinued at least 2 weeks before surgery.
Thiopental Side Effects and Dangers
While using thiopental, the doctor will monitor the patient's condition. There are several side effects that can occur after using thiopental, namely:
- Pain in the area where the drug was injected
- Cough or sneeze
- twitch
- Hiccup
- Difficulty breathing or shallow breathing
- Irregular heartbeat
The doctor will take care if the patient experiences these side effects during and after the thiopental injection.