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Phenytoin/pentobarbital

Veterinary euthanasia drug

Field	Value
type	combo
component1	Phenytoin
class1	Sodium channel blocker
component2	Pentobarbital
class2	Barbiturate
tradename	Beuthanasia-D Special
legal_AU
legal_CA
legal_UK
legal_US	Veterinary prescription only, Schedule III
legal_UN
legal_NZ
routes_of_administration	Intravenous injection
ATCvet	yes
ATC_prefix	N51
ATC_suffix	AA51

| Drugs.com = Phenytoin/pentobarbital (trade name Beuthanasia-D Special) is an animal drug product used for euthanasia, which contains a mixture of phenytoin and pentobarbital. It is administered as an intravenous injection to give animals a quick and humane death.

Generics of this product are also available under the names Euthasol, Euthanasia-III Solution and Somnasol.

Composition

The two active ingredients, phenytoin and pentobarbital are present as salts of sodium. In addition, Rhodamine B dye is added to clearly distinguish the solution. Benzyl alcohol is added to slow bacterial growth, though this does not make the solution sterile.

Euthasol has the following composition: 390 mg/mL pentobarbital sodium, 50 mg/mL phenytoin sodium, 10% ethyl alcohol, 18% propylene glycol, 0.003688 mg/mL Rhodamine B, 2% benzyl alcohol, water and sodium hydroxide and hydrochloric acid as needed to achieve desired pH.

Mechanism of action

This drug combination causes painless and rapid euthanasia through multiple pathways, including brain death, cessation of breathing and circulatory collapse. Brain death is observed first. Breathing generally stops within seconds. However, euthanasia may be delayed in dogs that have deficient cardiac and circulatory function.

The pentobarbital component produces anaesthesia and rapid unconsciousness. A lethal dose causes loss of medullary respiration and vasomotor function.

The phenytoin component produces reduced central nervous system function and cardiovascular collapse, causing hypotension.

Veterinary use

When used to euthanize dogs, intravenous injection is preferred, though intracardiac injection may be used in some circumstances, for example, if the animal is very small or comatose with impaired circulatory function.

Hazards

This product is hazardous both to humans and wildlife, whether due to accidental consumption (e.g. by scavengers eating a body of an animal euthanized with phenytoin/pentobarbital), exposure to wounds, or accidental self-injection.

Society and culture

In the US, it is classified by the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) as a Schedule III substance. US federal law restricts the drug to usage by, or on the order of, a licensed veterinarian.

References

(2015). "Plumb's Veterinary Drug Handbook". John Wiley & Sons.
(2014). "Mosby's Comprehensive Review for Veterinary Technicians". Elsevier Health Sciences.
"EUTHASOL® (EUTHANASIA SOLUTION)".

Info: Wikipedia Source

This article was imported from Wikipedia and is available under the Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 License. Content has been adapted to SurfDoc format. Original contributors can be found on the article history page.

euthanasia veterinary-drugs combination-drugs

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