What Are the Side Effects of Sodium Pentathol?

Sodium pentothal may be best known for its dark role in lethal injections as well as its former use by intelligence organizations as a 'truth serum.' Today, it is most often used for medical procedures.

History

• Sodium Pentothal is the trade name for Thiopental Sodium and was first discovered in 1936.

Function

• It is used for brief anesthetic procedures, administered in combination with other anesthetics, for hypnosis purposes and to help control convulsions.

Considerations

• Due to their ability to metabolize the drug more quickly, younger patients require larger doses than those 40 and older.

Warning

• Poor reactions to sodium pentothal include respiratory and myocardial distress, cardiac arrhythmias and death. It may also be habit forming.

Prevention/Solution

• Pentothal should only be given by those qualified in the administration of intravenous anesthetics.