User:Mr. Ibrahem/Pentobarbital

Pentobarbital is a medication that has been used for status epilepticus, acute agitation, short term management of trouble sleeping, surgery, and to put someone in a coma. It is used by injection into a muscle or vein. The by mouth formulation has been discontinued in the United States. Onset is within a minute when given into a vein and within 25 minutes when into a muscle. When given into a vein effects last about 15 minutes.

Common side effects include sleepiness, vomiting, and headache. Severe side effects include delirium, abuse, respiratory arrest, and anaphylaxis. Use is not recommended in pregnancy. It is in the barbiturate family of medications. It works by increasing the activity of GABA in the brain.

Pentobarbital came into medical use in the United States in 1930 by John Lundy. They were widely misused in the 1970s and known as "yellow jackets" due to their color. It is used for veterinary euthanasia and some US states for executions of criminals. The death of Marilyn Monroe in 1962 was due to an overdose of pentobarbital and chloral hydrate.