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Current section: Medication dosing

Thiopental Dose Calculator

Parameters

RequiredAllowed: 0.1–200 kg

Required

Required

RequiredAllowed: ≥ 0.1 mg/kg

Clinical context

This calculator returns a user-selected intravenous thiopental induction dose. For adults, it limits the total dose to 500 mg, or 250 mg during pregnancy. For children, it limits the selected dose to 7 mg/kg; the pregnancy selection does not alter the pediatric calculation. Availability and authorized indications vary by country. Use current local product information and reduce the dose in older, premedicated, hypovolemic, or otherwise compromised patients. Thiopental can cause apnea, respiratory depression, hypotension, and myocardial depression. Ensure immediate airway, ventilation, and resuscitation capability. It is contraindicated in acute intermittent porphyria and related porphyrias and in hypersensitivity to barbiturates. Use caution in severe cardiovascular, hepatic, or renal disease and in conditions that increase sensitivity to respiratory depression. Extravasation can cause tissue injury, and inadvertent intra-arterial injection can cause severe vasospasm and ischemia. Confirm secure intravenous access and monitor ventilation and circulation continuously during administration and recovery.