It is taken alone, or in combination with complementary agents such as phenytoin, in commercial animal euthanasia injectable solutions. In the Netherlands, it is part of the standard protocol for physician-assisted suicide for self-administration by the patient.It is taken by mouth for physician-assisted death in the United States states of Oregon, Washington, Vermont, and California (as of January, 2016).The oral dosage of pentobarbital indicated for physician-assisted suicide in Oregon is typically 10 g of liquid.In Switzerland, sodium pentobarbital is administered to the patient intravenously. Once administered, sleep is induced within 30 seconds, and the heart stops beating within 3 minutes. Execution
Pentobarbital has been used or considered as a substitute for other drugs previously used for capital punishment in the United States when those drugs are unavailable. Such use however is illegal under Danish law, and when this was discovered, after public outcry in Danish media, Lundbeck, the owner of the drug, stopped selling it to US states that impose the death penalty. US distributors of the drug are forbidden by the owner to sell it to any customers, such as state authorities, that practice or participate in executions of humans.Texas began using pentobarbital for executing death-row inmates by lethal injection on July 18, 2012.
Pentobarbital (previously known as pentobarbitone in Britain and Australia) is a short-acting barbiturate typically used as a sedative, a preanesthetic, and to control convulsions in emergencies. It can also be used for short-term treatment of insomnia but has been largely replaced by the benzodiazepine family of drugs. In high doses, pentobarbital causes death by respiratory arrest. It is used for veterinary euthanasia and is used by some U.S. states and the U.S. federal government for executions of convicted criminals. In some countries and states, it is also used for physician-assisted suicide.Pentobarbital was widely abused and sometimes known as "yellow jackets" due to the yellow capsule of the Nembutal brand. Pentobarbital in oral (pill) form is no longer commercially available. Uses
Medical
Typical applications for pentobarbital are sedative, short term hypnotic, preanesthetic, insomnia treatment, and control of convulsions in emergencies. Abbott Pharmaceutical discontinued manufacture of their Nembutal brand of Pentobarbital capsules in 1999, largely replaced by the benzodiazepine family of drugs. Pentobarbital was also widely abused, known on the street as "yellow jackets". They were available as 30, 50, and 100-milligram capsules of yellow, white-orange, and yellow colors, respectively.It is also used as a veterinary anesthetic agent.Pentobarbital can reduce intracranial pressure in Reyes syndrome, treat traumatic brain injury and induce coma in cerebral ischemia patients. Pentobarbital-induced coma has been advocated in patients with acute liver failure refractory to mannitol. Euthanasia
Pentobarbital can cause death when used in high doses. It is used for euthanasia for humans as well as animals.