Thiopental is a barbiturate used to induce general anesthesia, treat convulsions, and reduce intracranial pressure. A barbiturate that is administered intravenously for the induction of general anesthesia or for the production of complete anesthesia of short duration.
- Mechanism
- Curator reviewed
Thiopental binds at a distinct binding site associated with a Cl- ionopore at the GABAA 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.
- Primary indication
- For use as the sole anesthetic agent for brief (15 minute) procedures, for induction of anesthesia prior to administration of other anesthetic agents, to supplement regional anesthesia, to provide hypnosis during balanced anesthesia with other...Curator reviewed · 3 structured indications
- Formula / weight
- C11H18N2O2S · 242.338 g/mol (avg)
- First approval
- Canada, 2004
- Also known as
- Penthiobarbital · Pentothiobarbital · Thiopentobarbital · Thiopentobarbitone · Thiopentobarbituric acid
Resolves to
Structure
InChIKey
IUJDSEJGGMCXSG-UHFFFAOYSA-NSMILESCCCC(C)C1(CC)C(=O)NC(=S)NC1=OWhat you can answer from here — as of September 29, 2026
12Protein targetsEach mapped to UniProt, with action and pharmacological actionListed above
Which drugs share a target with Thiopental, and which of those have an active Phase 3 trial?
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