title: Methohexital: a practical review for outpatient dental anesthesia.
abstract: Methohexital is an ultrashort-acting barbiturate widely used in dentistry because of its rapid onset, predictable effects, and short duration of action. Like other barbiturates, methohexital exerts its effects through the gamma-aminobutyric acid (GABA) receptor complex. By binding to its own receptor on the complex, methohexital augments the inhibitory effect of GABA on neurons and additionally can exert a similar effect independent of GABA. After intravenous injection, maximal brain concentrations are achieved within 30 sec and then quickly fall as the drug is redistributed to other tissues, yielding a duration of action after a single dose of 4 to 7 min. Hepatic metabolism accounts for elimination of the drug. Methohexital at conventional doses in healthy individuals is a mild respiratory depressant with modest cardiovascular effects. Adverse effects, however, can include apnea, cardiovascular depression, laryngospasm, hiccough, and allergic-like reactions. Although more recently introduced drugs, such as midazolam, etomidate, and propofol, have specific advantages, methohexital remains a drug of choice for dental outpatient anesthesia because of its low cost, rapid onset, short duration, lack of secretory or emetic properties, and proven history.
authors.affiliation: Detroit Receiving Hospital.
authors.forename: C H
authors.initials: CH
authors.lastname: Martone
authors.forename: J
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Nagelhout
authors.forename: S M
authors.initials: SM
authors.lastname: Wolf
mesh_terms: D000766:Anesthesia, Dental / Q000379:methods*; D005045:Etomidate / Q000494:pharmacology; D006801:Humans; D008723:Methohexital / Q000494:pharmacology*; D008874:Midazolam / Q000494:pharmacology; D015742:Propofol / Q000494:pharmacology
chemical_list: D008723:Methohexital; D008874:Midazolam; D015742:Propofol; D005045:Etomidate