Thiopental
Aliases: Pentothal, Thiopentone, Penthiobarbital, Sodium pentothal, Sodium thiopental
Categories
Summary
Thiopental is an ultra-short-acting barbiturate used primarily for anesthesia induction, rapid sedation, emergency seizure control, and reducing intracranial pressure. It must be administered intravenously by trained medical professionals. The drug's brief duration of action results from rapid redistribution to fat and muscle tissue rather than metabolism. Respiratory and cardiovascular depression are significant risks, especially with overdose or combination with other depressants. Not suitable for prolonged or repeated use due to accumulation in fatty tissues and risk of toxicity.
Dose Information
Light
Common
Strong
Heavy
Onset, Duration & After-effects
| ROA | Onset | Comeup | Peak | Offset | After Effects |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Intravenous | 1-1 min | 1 min | 1-2 min | 5-15 min | 2-6 hrs |
Tolerance
Build-up
develops over 1–4 weeks of regular use
Reset
days to weeks depending on duration of use
Effects
Positive
- Muscle relaxation
- Physical Euphoria
- Analgesia
Negative
- Loss of consciousness
- Respiratory depression
- Nausea
- Sedation
- Decreased intracranial pressure
- Reduction of external stimuli
- Buzzing sensation in nerve
Positive
- Anxiety suppression
- Reduced anxiety
- Cognitive Euphoria
- Laughter Fits
Negative
- Amnesia
- Motor control loss
- Cognitive impairment
- Motor Control Loss
- Ego Death
- Dissociation
Positive
- Visual Geometry
Negative
- Disinhibition
- Tactile Suppression
- Acuity suppression
- Auditory suppression
- Dulled perception
- Auditory Distortion
- Sound distortion
- Minor to strong hallucinations
- Changes in felt bodily form