Brevital® Sodium is a Rapid, Ultrashort-Acting Barbiturate Anesthetic
- Compared with thiamylal and thiopental, methohexital is at least twice as potent on a weight basis, and its duration of action is only about half as long. Although the metabolic fate of methohexital in the body is not clear, the drug does not appear to concentrate in fat depots to the extent that other barbiturate anesthestics do. Thus, cumulative effects are fewer and recovery is more rapid with methohexital than with thiobarbiturates.1
- Intravenous administration of methohexital results in rapid uptake by the brain (within 30 seconds) and rapid induction of sleep.1
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.
