indication

For the induction of anesthesia prior to the use of other general anesthetic agents and for induction of anesthesia for short surgical, diagnostic, or therapeutic procedures associated with minimal painful stimuli.

pharmacology

Hexobarbital is a barbiturate derivative having hypnotic and sedative effects. It was used in the 1940s-1950s as an agent for inducing anesthesia for surgery and has a relatively fast onset of effects and short duration of action. However it can be difficult to control the depth of anesthesia with hexobarbital which makes it quite dangerous, and it has now been replaced by safer drugs in human medicine, usually thiopental would be the barbiturate of choice for this application these days.

mechanism of action

Hexobarbital binds at a distinct binding site associated with a Cl- ionopore at the GABA-A receptor, increasing the duration of time for which the Cl- ionopore is open. The post-synaptic inhibitory effect of GABA in the thalamus is, therefore, prolonged.

toxicity

Symptoms of an overdose typically include sluggishness, incoordination, difficulty in thinking, slowness of speech, faulty judgment, drowsiness or coma, shallow breathing, staggering, and in severe cases coma and death.

biotransformation

Hepatic.

drug interactions

Aminophylline: The barbiturate, hexobarbital, decreases the effect of aminophylline.

Betamethasone: The barbiturate, hexobarbital, may decrease the effect of the corticosteroid, betamethasone.

Clomifene: The enzyme inducer, hexobarbital, decreases the effect of the hormone agent, clomifene.

Conjugated Estrogens: The enzyme inducer, hexobarbital, decreases the effect of the hormone agent, conjugated estrogens.

Cyclosporine: The barbiturate, hexobarbital, increases the effect of cyclosporine.

Dexamethasone: The barbiturate, hexobarbital, may decrease the effect of the corticosteroid, dexamethasone.

Diethylstilbestrol: The enzyme inducer, hexobarbital, decreases the effect of the hormone agent, diethylstilbestrol.

Doxycycline: The anticonvulsant, hexobarbital, decreases the effect of doxycycline.

Estradiol: The enzyme inducer, hexobarbital, decreases the effect of the hormone agent, estradiol.

Ethinyl Estradiol: This product may cause a slight decrease of contraceptive effect

Felodipine: The barbiturate, hexobarbital, decreases the effect of felodipine.

Fludrocortisone: The barbiturate, hexobarbital, may decrease the effect of the corticosteroid, fludrocortisone.

Folic Acid: Folic acid decreases the effect of anticonvulsant, hexobarbital.

Gefitinib: The CYP3A4 inducer, hexobarbital, may decrease the serum concentration and therapeutic effects of gefitinib.

Griseofulvin: The barbiturate, hexobarbital, decreases the effect of griseofulvin.

Hydrocortisone: The barbiturate, hexobarbital, may decrease the effect of the corticosteroid, hydrocortisone.

Levonorgestrel: Phenobarbital decreases the effect of levonorgestrel

Medroxyprogesterone: The enzyme inducer, hexobarbital, decreases the effect of the hormone agent, medroxyprogesterone.

Megestrol: The enzyme inducer, hexobarbital, decreases the effect of the hormone agent, megestrol.

Methadone: The barbiturate, hexobarbital, decreases the effect of methadone.

Metronidazole: The barbiturate, hexobarbital, decreases the effect of metronidazole.

Nifedipine: The barbiturate, hexobarbital, decreases the effect of the calcium channel blocker, nifedipine.

Norethindrone: This product may cause a slight decrease of contraceptive effect

Oxtriphylline: The barbiturate, hexobarbital, decreases the effect of oxtriphylline.

Prednisolone: The barbiturate, hexobarbital, may decrease the effect of the corticosteroid, prednisolone.

Prednisone: The barbiturate, hexobarbital, may decrease the effect of the corticosteroid, prednisone.

Quinidine: The anticonvulsant, hexobarbital, decreases the effect of quinidine.

Theophylline: The barbiturate, hexobarbital, decreases the effect of theophylline.

Triamcinolone: The barbiturate, hexobarbital, may decrease the effect of the corticosteroid, triamcinolone.