Nembutal (pentobarbital sodium) is a barbiturate that acts as a depressant, or sedative , used short-term to treat insomnia. Nembutal is also used as an emergency treatment for seizures, and to cause patients to fall asleep for surgery. Nembutal is available in generic form.
The barbiturates are non selective central nervous system depressants which are primarily used as sedative hypnotics and also anti convulsants in subhypnotic doses. The barbiturates and their sodium salts are subject to control under the Federal Controlled Substances Act (See ” Drug Abuse and Dependence ” section).
The sodium salts of amobarbital, pentobarbital, phenobarbital, and secobarbital are available as sterile parenteral solutions.