Pentobarbital Sodium Suppliers & Bulk Manufacturers

Available Forms: Tablets / Oral solution / Injection

Available Strengths: 50 mg, 100 mg , 15 mg/mL, 25 mg/mL, 50 mg/mL, 65 mg/mL

Reference Brands: Nembutal (USA)

Category: Critical Care

Pentobarbital sodium is a short-acting barbiturate used to control refractory status epilepticus, to induce coma for raised intracranial pressure, and for procedural sedation. The injection is supplied as 50 mg/ml; the original brand is Nembutal. It is a controlled medicine in most countries, so we check the buyer's import permits before quoting.

Product Description:

Pentobarbital sodium is a short-acting barbiturate that acts as a positive allosteric modulator at GABA-A receptors and, at higher concentrations, opens the chloride channel directly. That second mechanism is why barbiturates have a narrow therapeutic index where benzodiazepines do not: there is no ceiling to the respiratory depression.

Its remaining clinical role is narrow and specialist — induction of barbiturate coma in refractory status epilepticus, and control of raised intracranial pressure unresponsive to other measures. For routine sedation and premedication it has been displaced by propofol, midazolam and dexmedetomidine, which are easier to titrate and far more forgiving.

Sourcing notes. Two separate constraints apply and both bite. It is a scheduled substance requiring import and export authorisation. Separately, its use in capital punishment has led several manufacturers and distributors to impose contractual distribution restrictions, and the EU operates export controls on goods capable of that use — supply can be refused on end-use grounds irrespective of licensing. Expect end-user declarations and expect some suppliers to decline legitimate medical orders.