Pentobarbital
Aliases: Nembutal, Novopentobarb, Pentobarbitone, Yellow jackets
Categories
Summary
Pentobarbital is a Schedule II controlled substance in the United States and similarly restricted internationally. It has largely been replaced by benzodiazepines for medical use due to its narrow therapeutic window and high addiction potential. The drug is currently used primarily in veterinary medicine for euthanasia and in some jurisdictions for physician-assisted suicide. Users should be aware that pentobarbital carries significantly higher risks of serious adverse effects when combined with other depressants compared to other sedative classes. Barbiturate overdose is a medical emergency requiring immediate hospitalization.
Dose Information
| ROA | Light | Common | Strong | Heavy |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Oral | 50-100mg | 100-200mg | 200-300mg | 200-300mg+ |
| Intramuscular | 100-150mg | 150-200mg | - | 200mg+ |
| Intravenous | 50-60mg | 60-100mg | - | 100mg+ |
Light
Common
Strong
Heavy
Onset, Duration & After-effects
| ROA | Onset | Comeup | Peak | Offset | After Effects |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Oral | 15-60 min | 30-60 min | 1-3 hrs | 1-2 hrs | 1-36 hrs |
| Intramuscular | 10-25 min | - | 3.0-4.0 hrs | - | 1.0-36.0 hrs |
| Intravenous | 1 min | - | 15.0-20.0 hrs | - | 1.0-36.0 hrs |
Tolerance
Build-up
develops over 1–4 weeks of daily use; hypnotic tolerance faster than anxiolytic tolerance
Reset
weeks to months depending on half-life and duration of use; taper recommended
Effects
Positive
- Physical Euphoria
- Muscle Relaxation
- Pain Relief
- Anxiolytic
Negative
- Respiratory Depression
- Profound Sedation
- Slurred Speech
- Decreased Blood Pressure
- Sedation
- Sedative
Positive
- Anxiety Suppression
- Cognitive Euphoria
Negative
- Motor Control Loss
- Amnesia
- Thought Deceleration
- Emotion Suppression
- Delusions of Sobriety
- Dizziness
- Compulsive Redosing
- Analysis Suppression
Positive
- Tracers
- Increased Music Appreciation
Negative
- Disinhibition
- Decreased Libido
- Acuity Suppression
- Dulled perception
- Metallic Taste
- Visual Drifting
- External Hallucinations
- Auditory Hallucinations