Pentobarbital (Nembutal) Nursing Considerations

Hey guys, let’s take a look at the drug. Pentobarbital also known as Nembutal. This is an IV medication. It also comes in an oral form, as you can see here. So the therapeutic class of Pento Barbi is a sedative, a hypnotic and an anticonvulsant. And remember, this is how it works in the body, the pharmacologic class, or the chemical effect of the drug is a short acting barbiturate. So pentobarbital works by depressing the sensory cortex and also motor it alters cerebellar function and produces drowsiness sedation, and also hypnosis. We use pentobarbital for the short term management of insomnia anesthesia, and also for seizures in an emergency situation. So of the way pentobarbital works in the body, the side effects that we can expect to see are things like drowsiness, dizziness, loss of coordination, and also nausea and vomiting, some nursing considerations for pentobarbital. It is contraindicated in patients with hypersensitivity, as well as patients who have porphyria avoid use in geriatric patients use caution in patients with depression and also patients who have liver and renal impairment monitor the hemodynamics of your patient while on pentobarbital, especially their respiratory status. In fact, most patients will probably be mechanically mechanically ventilated while being given pentobarbital. And it’s important to teach the patient to not consume alcohol. While on this medication, there is an awfully will use for this drug, which is a barbital coma for severe brain injury, and also for elevated intracranial pressure patients. Pento Bartol also has been a drug that has been commonly abused and is sold on the streets known as the name yellow jacket. 

That’s it for penal or ne Utah, and now go out and be your best self today. And as always happy nursing.