Thiopental: Use And Measures

Thiopental is a general anesthetic. This drug is a barbiturate or a type of medicine that works by numbing the central nervous system. Barbiturates are commonly used as anesthetics and painkillers. Thiopental is also commonly known as  sodium thiopental,  as it comes from thiobarbituric acid.

Nowadays, the medical field uses thiopental less and prefers to use other types of medications which have fewer side effects. After its use, many patients have commented that they felt slower and slightly disoriented after waking up from the anesthesia.

In fact, almost everyone compared it to a hangover after drinking too much alcohol.

In each case, it is a type of medicine with a very short-term effect. Scientists performed experiments to investigate whether thiopental could effectively induce a state of hypnosis in the patient.

However, the scientific and medical community eventually decided that thiopental had been proven to be ineffective in these trials. Thus, the medical field has continued to use it only as a short-term anesthetic, lasting a few minutes.

The active substances in thiopental

Thiopental, like all barbiturates, binds to Gaba receptors. Although the receptor subtype is different, the active substance in thiopental is the same as other relaxants, such as benzodiazepines.

When the substance binds to the receptor, they form a complex bond. This  regulates the transfer of information to the central nervous system.

The anesthetic and sedative effect occurs due to this regulation. In addition, thiopental also acts as an anticonvulsant. This is because – in case of seizures – it blocks them from transmitting to the neurotransmitter GABA.

During this anesthesia, a person enters a state of calm, which slows down the brain’s metabolism. Since the nutritional needs are very low in this condition, the blood supply is also reduced. Thus, it works by reducing blood flow and thus also the intracranial pressure.

Use of thiopental

Overall, a quick way to know if thiopental is being used is to check and see if the doctor gives it.

Often they give this type of medicine through intubation in the trachea  or by inserting a plastic tube into the trachea through the mouth.

That said, the most interesting aspect of thiopental is that when given at very low doses, it stops the pharyngeal effect. This makes it a great choice for problems with the mouth, throat or breathing. This is of course  especially useful in emergencies where the patient is not breathing properly. 

The same applies in situations where he / she has suffered from some form of trauma in the mouth, where blood or foreign bodies (dust, teeth, etc.) make it difficult to see where to insert the hose. These cases usually require the inhalation of an anesthetic.

Doctors and specialists also use it as a general anesthetic for shorter periods.

However, as we have mentioned before, the medical field uses it less and less. Now they usually prefer to use other anesthetics. There is, of course, a reason for this. Thiopental is an anesthetic and sedative. However, it does not act as a painkiller. Instead, it only soothes and numbs the patient.

Either way, it’s  specific situations where it can be an option. For example, doctors may use it during neurosurgery for patients who have suffered from head trauma or have refractory cranial hypertension.

In addition, doctors and nurses will also give it to psychiatric patients who have seizures and do not respond properly to other treatments.

Contraindications

Below you will be able to find a list of various  factors and disorders in which thiopental should not be used:

• Hypersensitivity to barbiturates. This basically means that with a small dose, the effect of the drug on the patient is very intense and long lasting. Unfortunately, being affected by an anesthetic can cause respiratory failure. It is therefore an important measure to keep in mind with sensitive patients.

• The patient should never take this drug if they have  taken other drugs that numb the central nervous system, especially alcohol. They work in a very similar way. It therefore greatly enhances the effect of the drug.
• Pregnancy and breast-feeding. Thiopental is transferred to the fetus. It therefore causes anesthesia of the nervous system of the fetus.
• The patient has a job that requires handling dangerous substances or driving in vehicles. This is, of course, because its anesthetic effect  reduces the person’s ability to concentrate.

Use of the substance

Doctors almost always inject thiopental into the blood vessels. However, this is unless they decide to use it as an anesthetic to be inhaled through hoses.

The dosage varies. However, it is typical to give 2-4mg / kg of body weight. Either way, they do this with the proviso that this dose varies and that each person has different sensitivities. They should therefore always first give it at the smallest amount and increase it little by little.

Thiopental generally affects patients one minute after it is given. However, it only lasts a few minutes if they do not stabilize it by maintaining the dosage.