Clinical medicine profile
Thiopentone
Therapeutic agent (verify pharmacological class)
- Route
- See product SmPC
- Schedule
- POM
- ATC
- Not assigned
- PPB status
- registered
This profile needs source confirmation
A traceable source link is not attached to this profile. Confirm prescribing decisions against the current SmPC and Kenya STG/EML.
Safety essentials
The information most likely to change a prescribing or dispensing decision.
Contraindications
- Hypersensitivity to the active substance or excipients.
- Additional absolute contraindications are indication- and product-specific — consult SmPC.
Precautions
- Use cautiously in patients with: asthma [as it causes bronchospasm]
- muscular dystrophies
- myotonias
- severe respiratory disorders
- dose is adjusted downwards in case of renal or hepatic disorders and in elderly patients.
Dosing matrix
Population and organ-function guidance, shown together for faster comparison.
Induction and maintenance: Adult - IV bolus 2-5mg/kg. with additional 25-50mg when needed. In elderly or debilitated the dose is reduced to 1-2.5mg /kg. Child: IV bolus, 5-6mg/kg. Neonate: IV bolus 2-3mg/kg. Seizure control: Adult, IV bolus, 50-125mg [increments of 25mg]. Child: IV bolus, 1.5- 3.5 mg /kg. Cerebral Protection: Adult & child, IV bolus, 1.5- 3.5 mg /kg
See label paediatric section if present; otherwise use paediatric formulary — do not extrapolate adult doses.
Review renal impairment dosing; many agents need CrCl/eGFR adjustment.
- CrCl 0–120: Confirm renal dosing in product SmPC / primary label.
Review hepatic impairment dosing; monitor LFTs if agent is hepatically cleared or hepatotoxic.
Use, effects & interactions
Indications
- Induction of general anesthesia
- used alone in short surgical procedures
- short term control of seizures
- elevated intracranial pressure
- cerebral protection in focal cerebral ischemia as observed in head injuries and status epilepticus [this protection is due to the fact that thiopentone reduces cerebral metabolic rate and blood flow]
Adverse effects
- Hypotension
- myocardial depression
- respiratory depression
- garlic-like taste during induction
- erythema
- pain at injection site
- laryngospasm and rarely bronchospasm
- anaphylaxis [rarely]
- extravasations can cause tissue necrosis.
- The intra-arterial injection can cause arterial spasm, thrombosis, and gangrene.
Drug interactions
Open multi-drug checker ↗- Professional use: confirm indication, dose, duration, monitoring and patient counselling points against current Kenya STG / EML and the product SmPC.
- Document allergy status and key interactions.
Mechanism & disposition
It is thought to act by potentiating the action of inhibitory neurotransmitter gamma-aminobutyric acid [GABA] receptors as well as depressing the actions of excitatory neurotransmitters in CNS.
Read complete mechanism
It is thought to act by potentiating the action of inhibitory neurotransmitter gamma-aminobutyric acid [GABA] receptors as well as depressing the actions of excitatory neurotransmitters in CNS.
Product-specific
Product-specific
See product SmPC
are product-specific. Consider food effects, protein binding, hepatic CYP/UGT
when adjusting for organ impairment, age and drug interactions. Verify parameters in the current SmPC.
Pregnancy, lactation & diet
Use only if potential benefit justifies potential risk; prefer agents with better reproductive data when alternatives exist.
Assess infant risk vs benefit of maternal therapy; prefer agents with lactation data.
Brands & loaded prices
| Brand | Manufacturer | Pack | Observed price |
|---|---|---|---|
| No reviewed brand listings are linked yet. | |||
Sources & review state
Decision support only. Confirm patient-specific decisions against the current product SmPC, Kenya STG/EML, and professional judgement.