Pentobarbital as sodium salt has been used as a sedative and hypnotic in the short-term management of insomnia. Pentobarbital sodium has also been used for premedication in anesthetic procedures. Pentobarbital is FDA-approved for the emergency control of certain acute convulsive episodes, e.g., those associated with status epilepticus, cholera, eclampsia, meningitis, tetanus, and toxic reactions to strychnine or local anesthetics. The other indications for pentobarbital include treatment of nonfatal submersion and traumatic/nontraumatic raised intracranial pressure.
Animal
Intraperitoneal (IP) injection of pentobarbital is used in experimental medicine as an anesthetic in small animals such as rat and mouse. Pentobarbital is an important drug for relieving convulsive seizures, especially when caused by strychnine.