Pentobarbital overdose
Nembutal overdose; Pentosol overdose; Sopental overdose; Repocal overdose; Barbiturate overdose - pentobarbitalPentobarbital is a sedative. This is a medicine that makes you sleepy. Pentobarbital overdose occurs when a person intentionally or accidentally takes too much of the medicine.
This article is for information only. DO NOT use it to treat or manage an actual overdose. If you or someone you are with overdoses, call the local emergency number (such as 911), or the local poison control center can be reached directly by calling the national toll-free Poison Help hotline (1-800-222-1222) from anywhere in the United States.
Poisonous Ingredient
Pentobarbital
Where Found
Pentobarbital is the generic name for the following medicines:
- Nembutal
- Pentosol
- Pentobarbital sodium
- Repocal
- Sopental
Symptoms
Symptoms of a pentobarbital overdose may include:
- Blurred or double vision, rapid side-to-side movement of eyes (nystagmus)
Nystagmus
Nystagmus is a term to describe uncontrollable movements of the eyes that may be:Side to side (horizontal nystagmus)Up and down (vertical nystagmus)R...
Read Article Now Book Mark Article - Coma (decreased level of consciousness and lack of responsiveness)
Coma
Decreased alertness is a state of reduced awareness and is often a serious condition. A coma is the most severe state of decreased alertness from whi...
Read Article Now Book Mark Article - Confusion
Confusion
Confusion is the inability to think as clearly or quickly as you normally do. You may feel disoriented and have difficulty paying attention, remembe...
Read Article Now Book Mark Article - Dizziness
- Drowsiness, tiredness, fainting
- Nausea
- Rash or blisters
- Shock (extremely low blood pressure)
Shock
Shock is a life-threatening condition that occurs when the body is not getting enough blood flow. Lack of blood flow means the cells and organs do n...
Read Article Now Book Mark Article - Slowed or absent breathing
- Stupor (decreased level of alertness)
- Slurred speech
- Weakness, uncoordinated movement, staggering gait (ataxia, seen commonly in children)
Uncoordinated movement
Uncoordinated movement is due to a muscle control problem that causes an inability to coordinate movements. It leads to a jerky, unsteady, to-and-fr...
Read Article Now Book Mark Article
Home Care
Seek immediate medical help. DO NOT make a person throw up unless told to do so by poison control or a health care professional.
Before Calling Emergency
Get the following information:
- The person's age, weight, and condition
- Name of product (as well as the ingredients and strength, if known)
- The time it was swallowed
- The amount swallowed
- If the medicine was prescribed for the person
However, DO NOT delay calling for help if this information is not immediately available.
Poison Control
The local poison control center can be reached directly by calling the national toll-free Poison Help hotline (1-800-222-1222) from anywhere in the United States. This national hotline will let you talk to experts in poisoning. They will give you further instructions.
Poison control center
For a POISON EMERGENCY call:1-800-222-1222ANYWHERE IN THE UNITED STATESThis national hotline number will let you talk to experts in poisoning. This ...
Read Article Now Book Mark ArticleThis is a free and confidential service. All local poison control centers in the United States use this national number. You should call if you have any questions about poisoning or poison prevention. It does NOT need to be an emergency. You can call for any reason, 24 hours a day, 7 days a week.
You can also get online poison help now at Poisonhelp.org. Just enter the product, poison, or medicine to get expert help.
For more information about America's Poison centers, go to poisoncenters.org/.
What to Expect at the Emergency Room
If you go to the emergency room, take the container for the medicine with you, if possible.
Your health care provider will measure and monitor your vital signs, including temperature, pulse, breathing rate, and blood pressure. Symptoms will be treated as appropriate. You may receive:
- Activated charcoal
- Blood and urine tests
- Breathing support, including oxygen, breathing tube through the mouth (intubation), and breathing machine (ventilator)
- CT scan of the head
CT scan
A cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) smear is a lab test to look for bacteria, fungi, and viruses in the fluid that moves in the space around the spinal cord ...
Read Article Now Book Mark Article - Chest x-ray
Chest x-ray
A chest x-ray is an x-ray of the chest, lungs, heart, large arteries, ribs, and diaphragm.
Read Article Now Book Mark Article - Electrocardiogram (ECG)
Electrocardiogram
An electrocardiogram (ECG) is a test that records the electrical activity of the heart.
Read Article Now Book Mark Article - Fluids through a vein (intravenous or IV)
Intravenous
Intravenous means "within a vein. " Most often it refers to giving medicines or fluids through a needle or tube inserted into a vein. This allows th...
Read Article Now Book Mark Article - Laxative
- Medicines to treat symptoms
People who have persistent symptoms after initial treatment may need to be admitted to the hospital for further care.
Outlook (Prognosis)
How well the person does depends on the amount of drug swallowed and how quickly treatment was received. With proper treatment, people can recover in 1 to 5 days.
People who are in a prolonged coma or who have respiratory complications, or those who develop shock may have permanent disability.
References
Aronson JK. Barbiturates. In: Aronson JK, ed. Meyler's Side Effects of Drugs. 16th ed. Waltham, MA: Elsevier; 2016:819-826.
Overbeek DL, Erickson TB. Sedative-hypnotics. In: Walls RM, ed. Rosen's Emergency Medicine: Concepts and Clinical Practice. 10th ed. Philadelphia, PA: Elsevier; 2023:chap 154.
Review Date: 1/8/2025
Reviewed By: Jesse Borke, MD, CPE, FAAEM, FACEP, Attending Physician at Kaiser Permanente, Orange County, CA. Also reviewed by David C. Dugdale, MD, Medical Director, Brenda Conaway, Editorial Director, and the A.D.A.M. Editorial team.