Indications & Usage
Brevital® Sodium can be used in adults as follows:
- For intravenous induction of anesthesia prior to the use of other general anesthetic agents.
- For intravenous induction of anesthesia and as an adjunct to subpotent inhalational anesthetic agents (such as nitrous oxide in oxygen) for short surgical procedures; Brevital® Sodium may be given by infusion or intermittent injection.
- For use along with other parenteral agents, usually narcotic analgesics, to supplement subpotent inhalation anesthetic agents (such as nitrous oxide in oxygen) for longer surgical procedures.
- As intravenous anesthesia for short surgical, diagnostic, or therapeutic procedures associated with minimal painful stimuli (see WARNINGS).
- As an agent for inducing a hypnotic state.
Brevital® Sodium can be used in pediatric patients older
than 1 month as follows:
- For rectal or intramuscular induction of anesthesia prior to the use of other general anesthetic agents.
- For rectal or intramuscular induction of anesthesia and as an adjunct to subpotent inhalational anesthetic agents for short surgical procedures.
- As rectal or intramuscular anesthesia for short surgical, diagnostic, or therapeutic procedures associated with minimal painful stimuli.
WARNING
Brevital should be used only in hospital or ambulatory care settings that provide for continuous monitoring of respiratory (e.g. pulse oximetry) and cardiac function. Immediate availability of resuscitative drugs and age- and size-appropriate equipment for bag/valve/mask ventilation and intubation and personnel trained in their use and skilled in airway management should be assured. For deeply sedated patients, a designated individual other than the practitioner performing the procedure should be present to continuously monitor the patient. (See WARNINGS)
Brevital® Sodium is a rapid, ultrashort-acting barbiturate anesthetic for intravenous use in adults, and for rectal and intramuscular use only in pediatric patients older than one month. Brevital® Sodium is contraindicated in patients in whom general anesthesia is contraindicated, in those with latent or manifest porphyria, or in patients with a known hypersensitivity to barbiturates. Intra-arterial injection of barbiturate solutions can result in necrosis, which may lead to gangrene and possible amputation and thereby should be avoided. Caution should be exercised in debilitated patients or patients with impaired function of respiratory, circulatory, renal, hepatic or endocrine systems and in those with severe anemia or those who are extremely obese. Side effects include but are not limited to circulatory depression, hypotension, respiratory depression (including apnea), skeletal muscle hyperactivity (twitching), seizures, emergence delirium, restlessness, anxiety, nausea, hiccups, emesis, coughing and pain at the injection site. Following massive exposure to any barbiturate, pulmonary edema, circulatory collapse with loss of peripheral vascular tone, and cardiac arrest may occur. Brevital® Sodium may be habit-forming.
Brevital® Sodium C-IV (methohexital sodium for injection, USP) is manufactured and distributed by JHP Pharmaceuticals L.L.C.
