Thiopental

What is thiopental?

Thiopental is a barbiturate (bar-BIT-chur-ate). Thiopental slows the activity of your brain and nervous system.

Important Information

You should not use thiopental if you have porphyria, liver or kidney disease, severe anemia, myasthenia gravis, asthma, a thyroid disorder, or Addison’s disease.

Before taking this medicine

You should not use thiopental if you are allergic to it, or if you have:

• porphyria (a genetic enzyme disorder that causes symptoms affecting the skin or nervous system);
• Addison’s disease (an adrenal gland disorder);
• liver or kidney disease;
• severe anemia (low red blood cells);
• a thyroid disorder;
• myasthenia gravis;
• asthma; or
• if you are allergic to other barbiturates (amobarbital, butabarbital, mephobarbital, secobarbital, phenobarbital).

To make sure thiopental is safe for you, tell your doctor if you have:

• severe heart disease;
• pituitary gland disorder;
• a pancreas disorder;
• head injury, brain tumor, or other condition that causes increased pressure inside the skull;
• problems with the muscles in or around your eyes; or
• if you take a blood thinner (warfarin, Coumadin, Jantoven).

FDA pregnancy category Tell your doctor if you are pregnant or plan to become pregnant while using thiopental.

Thiopental can pass into breast milk and may harm a nursing baby. Tell your doctor if you are breastfeeding a baby.