<Tr> <Th_colspan="2"> (what is this?) (verify) </Th> </Tr> <P> Sodium thiopental, also known as Sodium Pentothal (a trademark of Abbott Laboratories, not to be confused with pentobarbital), thiopental, thiopentone, or Trapanal (also a trademark), is a rapid - onset short - acting barbiturate general anesthetic that is an analogue of thiobarbital . Sodium thiopental was a core medicine in the World Health Organization's List of Essential Medicines, which is a list of minimum medical needs for a basic healthcare system, but was supplanted by propofol . Despite this thiopental is still listed as an acceptable alternative to propofol, depending on local availability and cost of these agents . It was previously the first of three drugs administered during most lethal injections in the United States, but the U.S. manufacturer Hospira stopped manufacturing the drug and the EU banned the export of the drug for this purpose . </P> <P> Sodium thiopental is an ultra-short - acting barbiturate and has been used commonly in the induction phase of general anesthesia . Its use has been largely replaced with that of propofol, but retains popularity as an induction agent for rapid sequence intubation and in obstetrics . Following intravenous injection, the drug rapidly reaches the brain and causes unconsciousness within 30--45 seconds . At one minute, the drug attains a peak concentration of about 60% of the total dose in the brain . Thereafter, the drug distributes to the rest of the body, and in about 5--10 minutes the concentration is low enough in the brain that consciousness returns . </P> <P> A normal dose of sodium thiopental (usually 4--6 mg / kg) given to a pregnant woman for operative delivery (caesarian section) rapidly makes her unconscious, but the baby in her uterus remains conscious . However, larger or repeated doses can depress the baby . </P>

What does sodium pentothal do to the body