Amobarbital

DEA Class;  Rx

Common Brand Names; Amytal Sodium 

Hypersensitivity

Patients with history of manifest or latent porphyria

Significant impairment of liver function

Respiratory disease in which dyspnea or obstruction is evident

Habit forming; tolerance and psychological dependence may occur with continued use

Caution in patients that are mentally depressed, have suicide ideation or history of drug abuse and hepatic damage

Rapid administration may cause respiratory depression, apnea, laryngospasm, or vasodilatation with decrease in blood pressure

Parenteral solutions of barbiturates are highly alkaline; care should be taken to avoid perivascular extravasation or intra-arterial injection

Amobarbital may diminish systemic effects of exogenous and endogenous corticosteroids. Administer with caution to patients with borderline hypoadrenal function, regardless of whether it is of pituitary or of primary adrenal origin

Possible impairment of mental and/or physical abilities required for the performance of potentially hazardous tasks, such as driving a car or operating machinery

Concurrent use of barbiturates with other CNS depressants (eg, alcohol, narcotics, tranquilizers, antihistamines) may result in increased CNS-depressant effects

Extravascular injection may cause local tissue damage with subsequent necrosis; consequences of intra-arterial injection may vary from transient pain to gangrene of the limb; any complaint of pain in the limb warrants stopping the injection

Pregnancy Category: D

Lactation: small amounts of barbiturates are excreted in the milk; use caution