Lecture 4: Barbiturates Flashcards
What are the two main barbiturates?
1) Thiopental
2) Methohexital
What is the common name of Methohexital?
1) Brevital
Which barbiturate is often used for ECT?
Methohexital
What is the pH of Thiopental and what are the implications of that?
Thiopental has a pH of 10.5, which means that bacteria cannot grow in it. However, it also means it burns upon injection when it comes into contact with the lower pH of blood.
Why do crystals form when you mix fentanyl and thiopental?
Fentanyl is an acid, and thiopental is a base. Acid + base = salt
How is thiopental supplied (in what form)? What is its expiration time in that form?
It is supplied as an anhydrous powder, and its shelf life is indefinite.
When thiopental is reconstituted and refrigerated, what is its shelf life?
Two weeks
When thiopental is reconstituted and left at room temperature, what is its shelf life?
24 hours
What is the mechanism of thiopental? How does it have a sedative/hypnotic effect on the brain?
It decreases dissociation of GABA to its receptor–makes GABA bind much stronger and much more long lasting. When GABA binds, Cl- channels open to hyperpolarize the cell and prevent neurotransmission.
How does the barbiturate mechanism of action differ from the benzodiazepine mechanism of action?
Barbiturates cause Cl- channels to remain open longer d/t an increase in strength in GABA bound to its receptor, whereas benzodiazepines affect the frequency at which Cl- channels open.
What is the pK of barbiturates? Does it favor the ionized or nonionized form?
pK= 7.6, so non-ionized form is favored
Of every dose you give, what percentage of barbiturates is bound to protein?
80%
Maximum uptake of barbiturates in the brain occurs in what time frame?
Within 1 minute of initial dose
Redistribution to the plasma results in barbiturate levels in the brain dropping to 10% in what time frame?
At what time point does the patient wake up? What sensation does this cause?
20-30 minutes, but patient wakes up after 5-10 minutes, leaving them with a hangover sensation
Barbiturates are metabolized in the:
liver
If you run an infusion of thiopental, it eventually redistributes to what type of tissue over every other type?
Fatty tissues
When you inject thiopental into the blood, what is its course of redistribution from that point?
From blood > brain and viscera > lean tissues > fat
Why do people often feel hung over after being put to sleep with thiopental?
The elimination phase of thiopental is long-lasting, and higher concentrations of thiopental stick around for longer amounts of time.
Onset, peak, and duration of thiopental?
Onset: 30-40 sec
Peak: 1 minute
Duration: 5-8 minutes
Are the metabolites of barbiturates active or inactive? How are they excreted?
Inactive
Excreted via kidneys