Methohexital

Take methohexital exactly as prescribed by your doctor. Follow the directions on your prescription label carefully.

The Methohexital dose your doctor recommends will be based on the following (use any or all that apply):

• the condition being treated
• other medical conditions you have
• other medications you are taking
• how you respond to this medication
• your weight
• your height
• your age
• your gender

Methohexital is available in the following doses:

• Methohexital 100 Mg/10 Ml Intravenous Solution
• Methohexital 2.5 G Intravenous Powder For Injection
• Methohexital 200 Mg Intravenous Powder For Injection
• Methohexital 5 G Intravenous Powder For Injection
• Methohexital 500 Mg Intravenous Powder For Injection

You should not use this medicine if you have a history of porphyria (a genetic enzyme disorder that causes symptoms affecting the skin or nervous system).

Usual Adult Dose for Anesthesia:

Induction of anesthesia:
A 1% solution is administered intravenously at a rate of about 1 mL/5 seconds. Gaseous anesthetics and/or skeletal muscle relaxants may be administered concomitantly. The dose required for induction may range from 50 to 120 mg or more but averages about 70 mg. The usual dosage in adults ranges from 1 to 1.5 mg/kg. The induction dose usually provides anesthesia for 5 to 7 minutes.
Maintenance of anesthesia:
Maintenance of anesthesia may be accomplished by intermittent injections of the 1% solution or by continuous intravenous infusion of a 0.2% solution. Intermittent injections of about 20 to 40 mg may be given as required, usually every 4 to 7 minutes. For continuous infusion, the average rate of administration is about 3 mL of a 0.2% solution/minute. The rate of flow must be individualized for each patient. For longer surgical procedures, gradual reduction in the rate of administration is recommended. Other parenteral agents, usually narcotic analgesics, are ordinarily employed along with methohexital during longer procedures.

Usual Pediatric Dose for Anesthesia:

For induction of anesthesia:
1 month or older:

Intramuscular: 6.6 to 10 mg/kg using a 5% solution.
Rectal: 25 mg/kg using a 1% solution.

• Tell all of your health care providers that you take this medicine. This includes your doctors, nurses, pharmacists, and dentists.
• Avoid driving and doing other tasks or actions that call for you to be alert until the effects of methohexital wear off and you feel fully awake.
• Talk with your doctor before you drink alcohol or use other drugs and natural products that slow your actions.
• This medicine may raise the chance of seizures in some people, including people who have had seizures in the past. Talk to your doctor to see if you have a greater chance of seizures while taking this medicine.
• This medicine may affect certain lab tests. Tell all of your health care providers and lab workers that you take methohexital.
• Studies in young animals and children have shown that frequent or long-term use of anesthesia drugs or drugs used for sleep in children younger than 3 years of age may lead to long-term brain problems. This may also happen in unborn babies if the mother uses this medicine during the third trimester of pregnancy. Talk with the doctor.
• Use with care in children. Talk with the doctor.
• If you are 65 or older, use methohexital with care. You could have more side effects.
• Tell your doctor if you are pregnant or plan on getting pregnant. You will need to talk about the benefits and risks of using this medicine while you are pregnant.
• Tell your doctor if you are breast-feeding. You will need to talk about any risks to your baby.

Use methohexital as ordered by your doctor. Read all information given to you. Follow all instructions closely.

• It is given as a shot into a muscle or vein.

What do I do if I miss a dose?

• Call your doctor to find out what to do.

WARNING/CAUTION: Even though it may be rare, some people may have very bad and sometimes deadly side effects when taking a drug. Tell your doctor or get medical help right away if you have any of the following signs or symptoms that may be related to a very bad side effect:

• Signs of an allergic reaction, like rash; hives; itching; red, swollen, blistered, or peeling skin with or without fever; wheezing; tightness in the chest or throat; trouble breathing or talking; unusual hoarseness; or swelling of the mouth, face, lips, tongue, or throat.
• Very bad dizziness or passing out.
• A fast heartbeat.
• Feeling confused.
• Trouble breathing, slow breathing, or shallow breathing.
• Seizures.
• Restlessness.
• Anxiety.
• This medicine may cause tissue damage if the drug leaks from the vein. Tell your nurse if you have any redness, burning, pain, swelling, blisters, skin sores, or leaking of fluid where the drug is going into your body.

If you think there has been an overdose, call your poison control center or get medical care right away. Be ready to tell or show what was taken, how much, and when it happened.

• If you need to store this medicine at home, talk with your doctor, nurse, or pharmacist about how to store it.

• If your symptoms or health problems do not get better or if they become worse, call your doctor.
• Do not share your drugs with others and do not take anyone else's drugs.
• Keep a list of all your drugs (prescription, natural products, vitamins, OTC) with you. Give this list to your doctor.
• Talk with the doctor before starting any new drug, including prescription or OTC, natural products, or vitamins.
• Keep all drugs in a safe place. Keep all drugs out of the reach of children and pets.
• Check with your pharmacist about how to throw out unused drugs.
• Some drugs may have another patient information leaflet. Check with your pharmacist. If you have any questions about methohexital, please talk with your doctor, nurse, pharmacist, or other health care provider.
• If you think there has been an overdose, call your poison control center or get medical care right away. Be ready to tell or show what was taken, how much, and when it happened.

This information should not be used to decide whether or not to take this medicine or any other medicine. Only the healthcare provider has the knowledge and training to decide which medicines are right for a specific patient. This information does not endorse any medicine as safe, effective, or approved for treating any patient or health condition. This is only a brief summary of general information about methohexital. It does NOT include all information about the possible uses, directions, warnings, precautions, interactions, adverse effects, or risks that may apply to this medicine. This information is not specific medical advice and does not replace information you receive from the healthcare provider. You must talk with the healthcare provider for complete information about the risks and benefits of using methohexital.

Review Date: October 4, 2017

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