Pentobarbital - Intramuscular

Pentobarbital is used for the short-term treatment of insomnia (difficulty sleeping).

This medicine may also be used to treat other conditions as decided by your doctor.

Pentobarbital injection is to be given intramuscularly (into the muscle, usually into the muscles of the upper arm, thigh, or buttocks).

Your doctor or nurse will administer the injection for you.

The dose of this medicine will be decided by your doctor. Your doctor will advise you on the treatment timeframe depending on the severity of your condition and your response to the medication.

Ensure that you keep all appointments with your doctor so that you do not miss any doses. Your doctor also needs to regularly monitor your response to Pentobarbital.

If you miss an appointment or miss an injection, alert your doctor or nurse. A replacement appointment or injection should be given as soon as possible.

Alert your doctor if you have porphyria (an inherited disorder that causes skin or nervous system abnormalities) as Pentobarbital may not be suitable for you.

Inform your doctor if you have the following conditions:

• lung disease or severe breathing difficulties e.g. chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (a long-term lung disease that causes airflow obstruction making it hard to breathe)
• sleep apnoea syndrome (a sleep disorder that causes interrupted breathing during sleep)
• heart disease or heart failure (weakness and inability of the heart to pump blood)
• low or high blood pressure
• depression or having thoughts of self-harm
• bone problems that cause low bone mass
• long-term or severe pain
• history of drug or alcohol abuse
• liver disease
• kidney disease

Let your doctor know if you are pregnant or breastfeeding.

Be sure to check with your doctor or pharmacist before giving Pentobarbital to a child, the elderly, or debilitated individual (physically or mentally weak, usually due to illness or old age). These people may be more sensitive to the side effects.

For as long as you are using this medicine, your doctor needs to monitor your condition and check your response to the medication regularly.

Practise good sleeping habits to reduce reliance on sleeping pills. These are some good sleeping habits which you should follow:

• Try to relax before bedtime. Do not engage in strenuous activities.
• Try to go to bed at about the same time every night.
• Have a light dinner. A heavy dinner may disturb your sleep.
• Avoid caffeine in the evening. Caffeine-containing food and drinks include coffee, tea, certain soft drinks and even chocolate.
• Avoid drinking alcohol before bedtime.
• Keep your bedroom quiet, dark, and airy.
• Avoid taking naps, especially in the late afternoon.

Pentobarbital may cause dizziness or impair alertness. If affected, do not drive or take part in any activity in which you need to be alert.

Other side effects include any of the following: headache, confusion, nervousness, nausea, vomiting, constipation, and injection site reactions.

Some side effects may need immediate medical help. Alert your doctor quickly if you experience any of the following:

• rashes, breathlessness, swelling of the face, eyes, mouth, or throat
• excessive movements, agitation, irritability, mood changes, confusion
• unusual changes in mood or behaviour (being too depressed, agitated, or having thoughts of self-harm), hearing or seeing things that are not there
• weakening of bones, bone pain, loss of height, bent posture
• yellowing of the skin or eyes, abdominal pain, dark coloured urine, tiredness, swelling in the legs and ankles

Inform your doctor if any of these side effects do not go away or are severe, or if you experience other side effects.

Inform your doctor and pharmacist if you are taking any of these medicines:

• other medicines for sleep disorders e.g. zolpidem, flunitrazepam, lemborexant
• medicines for cold or allergy e.g. hydroxyzine, trimeprazine
• medicines for epilepsy (fits or seizures) e.g. phenytoin, valproic acid
• medicines to treat depression
• blood-thinning medicines e.g. warfarin, dicumarol
• birth control pills e.g. estrogen, progesterone
• corticosteroids (anti-inflammatory medicine)
• griseofulvin (medicine to treat fungal infection)
• doxycycline (antibiotic)

This list does not include all medicines that may interact with Pentobarbital.

Always notify your doctor and pharmacist if you are taking any other medicines, including herbal tonics such as traditional Chinese medicines, supplements, and medicines that you buy without a prescription.

Avoid alcohol. Alcohol intake may worsen the dizziness and drowsiness caused by Pentobarbital.

Store in a cool, dry place away from the reach of children.

Protect from excessive heat and freezing.

Medicines must not be used past the expiry date.