Pentobarbital belongs to the barbiturate class of medications and is approved by the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) for managing various medical conditions such as seizures, status epilepticus, and short-term treatment of insomnia. At low doses, approved indications of pentobarbital include short-term sedatives to treat insomnia and as a pre-anesthetic agent for surgery in the operating room. Pentobarbital primarily acts on the central nervous system (CNS). At elevated doses, pentobarbital functions as an anticonvulsant for emergent seizure control and for inducing medically induced comas. Studies have demonstrated the superiority of pentobarbital due to its faster brain penetration and shorter half-life, thereby making it the preferred treatment for refractory status epilepticus.Pentobarbital functions within the CNS by binding to gamma-aminobutyric acid (GABA) A subtype receptors. This action potentiates GABA effects, resulting in CNS depression and inhibiting glutamate, further leading to an additive effect on CNS depression. Although the lack of an antidote has led to decreased first-line usage of the drug, its indications remain recognized. This activity reviews the indications, mechanism of action, administration, adverse effects, and contraindications of pentobarbital therapy in the clinical setting. This activity also entails members of an interprofessional healthcare team in treating patients undergoing treatment with pentobarbital and its related conditions and sequelae, reviewing the essential pearls.
- Provider:StatPearls, LLC
- Activity Link: https://www.statpearls.com/ArticleLibrary/viewarticle/44601
- Start Date: 2023-09-01 05:00:00
- End Date: 2023-09-01 05:00:00
- Credit Details: IPCE Credits: 1.0 hours
AMA PRA Category 1 Credit™️: 1.0 hours
Nursing: 1.0 hours
Pharmacy: 1.0 hours - MOC Credit Details: ABS - 1.0 Point; Credit Type(s): Accredited CME (ABS)
ABOS - 1.0 Point; Credit Type(s): Accredited CME (ABOS)
ABPATH - 1.0 Point; Credit Type(s): Lifelong Learning (ABPATH)
ABA - 1.0 Point; Credit Type(s): Lifelong Learning (ABA)
ABTS - 1.0 Point; Credit Type(s): Accredited CME (ABTS)
ABIM - 1.0 Point; Credit Type(s): Medical Knowledge (ABIM)
ABS - 1.0 Point; Credit Type(s): Self-Assessment (ABS)
ABP - 1.0 Point; Credit Type(s): Lifelong Learning and Self-Assessment (ABP)
ABOHNS - 1.0 Point; Credit Type(s): Self-Assessment (ABOHNS)
ABTS - 1.0 Point; Credit Type(s): Self-Assessment (ABTS) - Commercial Support: No
- Activity Type: Enduring Material
- CME Finder Type: Online Learning
- Fee to Participate: Variable
- Measured Outcome: Learner Knowledge, Learner/Team Competence
- Provider Ship: Directly Provided
- Registration: Open to all
- Specialty: All Practice Areas (e.g. ethics), Ambulatory/Outpatient, Bariatric Surgery, Cardiac Anesthesia, Cardiothoracic, Cardiovascular, Complex General Surgical Oncology, Critical Care, Critical Care Medicine, General Operative Anesthesia, General Orthopaedics, General Pediatrics, General Surgery, General Thoracic, Hand Surgery, Hospital Medicine, Internal Medicine, Neuro Anesthesia, Neurocritical Care, Non-Thoracic Surgery, Obstetric Anesthesia, Pediatric Anesthesia, Pediatric Cardiology, Pediatric Critical Care Medicine, Pediatric Emergency Medicine, Pediatric Neurology, Pediatric Surgery, Regional Anesthesia/Acute Pain, Sleep Medicine, Surgical Critical Care, Thoracic Anesthesia, Vascular Surgery