Pentobarbital

**Definition:** A short-acting barbiturate that is effective as a sedative and hypnotic (but not as an anti-anxiety) agent and is usually given orally. It is prescribed more frequently for sleep induction than for sedation but, like similar agents, may lose its effectiveness by the second week of continued administration. (From AMA Drug Evaluations Annual, 1994, p236)

**Tree numbers:** - D03.383.742.698.253.593

**Synonyms:** - Mebubarbital - Pentobarbitone