Pentothal
Noun: 1. A fast-acting barbiturate drug used as a general anesthetic: Pentothal is the trade name for thiopental sodium, a barbiturate administered intravenously. It acts very quickly to induce unconsciousness and was historically a common agent for the induction of general anesthesia. 2. (Informal/Historical context) "Truth serum": Due to its ability to lower inhibitions and produce a state of drowsy disinhibition, Pentothal has been used in non-anesthetic contexts, often referred to informally as a "truth serum," though its reliability for this purpose is highly questionable.
- Noun:
- The anesthesiologist administered Pentothal to induce unconsciousness before the surgery.
- In mid-20th century espionage stories, agents were sometimes subjected to Pentothal during interrogations.
- "Sodium Pentothal": This is the full chemical name (thiopental sodium) and is often used interchangeably with the trade name "Pentothal."
- Sodium Pentothal has largely been replaced by newer anesthetic agents in modern medicine.
- Thiopental (n): The generic drug name for Pentothal.
- Barbiturate (n): The class of central nervous system depressant drugs to which Pentothal belongs.
- Anesthetic (n): A substance that induces insensitivity to pain; Pentothal is a type of general anesthetic.
- Thiopental sodium (chemical/generic synonym)
- Truth serum (informal, contextual synonym based on historical use, not a medical term)
The primary and technical meaning of Pentothal is strictly as a rapid-onset barbiturate anesthetic. Its secondary meaning as a "truth serum" is a popular cultural concept derived from its pharmacological effects but is not a standard or reliable medical or legal practice. Modern references to the drug often highlight this historical and controversial usage.
- barbiturate that is a hygroscopic powder (trade name Pentothal) that is a strong barbiturate that acts rapidly; induces a relaxed state when injected as a general anesthetic