SODIUM PENTOTHAL Meaning and
Definition
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Sodium pentothal is a pharmaceutical substance that acts as a sedative-hypnotic and a fast-acting barbiturate drug. Chemically known as sodium thiopental, it belongs to the class of compounds called thiobarbiturates.
Sodium pentothal has potent hypnotic properties, making it highly effective in inducing unconsciousness and sleep. It works by enhancing the inhibitory effects of the neurotransmitter gamma-aminobutyric acid (GABA) in the brain, leading to a decrease in neuronal activity and calming effects on the central nervous system (CNS). The onset of action is rapid, with the drug exerting its effects within seconds to minutes of administration. This makes sodium pentothal an ideal choice for inducing anesthesia before surgery or other medical procedures.
In addition to its potential uses in anesthesia, sodium pentothal has also been infrequently employed in certain forensic and legal settings for its truth serum properties. It has been suggested that under the influence of sodium pentothal, individuals may be more willing to disclose information or details that they might otherwise withhold. However, these properties have been heavily debated, and the use of sodium pentothal for truth verification remains controversial.
While sodium pentothal can be a valuable tool in the medical field, it is associated with several risks and side effects. These can include respiratory depression, potential cardiovascular effects, throat and bronchial irritation, and allergic reactions. As such, sodium pentothal should only be administered under the supervision of a trained medical professional in an appropriate clinical setting.
Common Misspellings for SODIUM PENTOTHAL
- aodium pentothal
- zodium pentothal
- xodium pentothal
- dodium pentothal
- eodium pentothal
- wodium pentothal
- sidium pentothal
- skdium pentothal
- sldium pentothal
- spdium pentothal
- s0dium pentothal
- s9dium pentothal
- sosium pentothal
- soxium pentothal
- socium pentothal
- sofium pentothal
- sorium pentothal
- soeium pentothal
- soduum pentothal
- sodjum pentothal
Etymology of SODIUM PENTOTHAL
The word "sodium pentothal" is a compound term consisting of "sodium" and "pentothal".
1. "Sodium": The term "sodium" comes from the Medieval Latin word "sodanum", which was derived from the Arabic word "suda", meaning "headache". The element sodium (Na) was named so due to the headache-like symptoms it caused in early chemical extraction processes.
2. "Pentothal": "Pentothal" is a brand name for the drug thiopental sodium, which is a short-acting barbiturate. The term "pentothal" is derived by combining two parts:
a) "Pent-" is derived from the Greek word "pente", meaning "five" in reference to the five-carbon chain structure of the drug.
