Insomnia medication

DOSAGE AND USE

Dosages of barbiturates must be individualized with full knowledge of their special properties and the recommended rate of administration. Factors to consider are age, weight and the patient's condition. Parenteral routes should only be used when oral administration is impossible or impractical.

Intramuscular administration

Intramuscular injection of barbiturate sodium salts should be deep into a large muscle and, because of possible tissue irritation, the volume should not exceed 5 ml at any one site. After intramuscular injection of a hypnotic dose, the patient's vital signs should be monitored. The usual dose of NEMBUTAL sodium solution for adults is 150 to 200 mg as an intramuscular injection; The recommended pediatric dose ranges from 2 to 6 mg/kg as a single intramuscular injection, not to exceed 100 mg.

Intravenous administration

NEMBUTAL sodium solution should not be mixed with any other medicine or solution. Intravenous injection is limited to conditions where other routes are not possible, either because the patient is unconscious (as in cerebral haemorrhage, eclampsia or status epilepticus), or because the patient resists (as in delirium), or because immediate action is absolutely necessary . Slow IV injection is essential and patients should be closely monitored during administration. This requires maintaining blood pressure, breathing and cardiac function, recording vital signs and having resuscitation and artificial respiration equipment available. The rate of intravenous injection should not exceed 50 mg/min for pentobarbital sodium. A usual starting dose for adults of 70 kg is 100 mg. Proportional dose reductions should be made in pediatric or debilitated patients. At least one minute is required to see the full effect of intravenous pentobarbital. If necessary, additional small amounts of the drug may be given to normal adults, up to a total dose of 200 to 500 mg.