Secobarbital sodium 100mg capsules
Requires a prescription from a doctor or prescriber
Secobarbital (marketed by Eli Lilly and Company under the brand names Seconal and Tuinal) is a barbiturate derivative drug with anaesthetic, anticonvulsant, sedative and hypnotic properties.
Strict controls: safe custody, register required
Legal requirements and restrictions
Schedule 2 medicines that do not require storage in a controlled drugs cabinet, but still subject to other Schedule 2 controls.
Legal requirements
- Pharmacy must keep a controlled drugs register
- Prescriptions valid for 28 days only
- Prescriptions must include specific details
- Does NOT require locked cabinet storage
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Data from the MHRA Yellow Card scheme. A reported reaction does not necessarily mean the medicine caused it. Contains public sector information licensed under the Open Government Licence v3.0.
EudraVigilance
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2 branded products available
WHO defined daily dose (DDD)
100 mg
Not a recommended dose. The DDD is the assumed average maintenance dose per day for a drug used for its main indication in adults. It is a statistical measure used for research and comparison purposes only.
Source: WHO Collaborating Centre for Drug Statistics Methodology, distributed via the NHS dm+d supplementary BNF/ATC mapping files (NHSBSA). Contains public sector information licensed under the Open Government Licence v3.0.
Therapeutically similar medicines
Similarity is based on WHO Anatomical Therapeutic Chemical (ATC) classification and on a factual NHS dm+d therapeutic-grouping code prefix. Source data: NHS dm+d via TRUD (OGL v3.0), WHO ATC/DDD Index.
NHS prescribing volume and spending trends
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Supply & safety information
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Codes for healthcare professionals and prescribing systems
These codes are used by healthcare IT systems and prescribers to identify this medicine.
NHS UK identifiers
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SNOMED CT and dm+d codes from NHS TRUD (Technology Reference data Update Distribution), licensed under the Open Government Licence v3.0. BNF code shown is the factual mapping value distributed by NHS Business Services Authority (NHSBSA) in the dm+d supplementary file under OGL v3.0; it is not affiliated with, nor licensed from, the publishers of the British National Formulary. ATC codes from the WHO Collaborating Centre for Drug Statistics Methodology (whocc.no).
Active and completed clinical studies from ClinicalTrials.gov
Source: ClinicalTrials.gov, a database of the U.S. National Library of Medicine (NLM), National Institutes of Health (NIH). Data accessed via ClinicalTrials.gov API v2. Trial information is provided for research purposes and does not constitute medical advice.
Academic studies and reviews for this medicine's active substance
Showing the 50 most relevant studies.
Randomised trials: 1 · 1956–2025
Showing the 50 most relevant studies, sorted by most relevant.
P. Richards, M. Flaum, M. Bateman, et al.
Cancer, 1986
Watanabe M, Hashimoto K, Ishii Y, et al.
2024
- Euthanasia, Animal
- Mice
- Pentobarbital
Euthanasia agents should rapidly induce death and loss of consciousness without causing pain or distress. Various methods exist for the euthanasia of laboratory animals, and injectable anesthetics, particularly barbiturate derivatives, are widely used due to the rapid onset of unconsciousness induced by these agents. Moreover, pharmaceutical-grade drugs should be used to eliminate undesirable side effects as much as possible. However, in Japan, the sale of pharmaceutical-grade pentobarbital sodium (PB) ended in 2019, and that of secobarbital sodium (SB) ended in 2023, leading to a demand for new pharmaceutical-grade injectable euthanasia drugs. This study evaluates thiamylal sodium (TM), a barbiturate derivative that is available domestically, as a euthanasia agent for mice. The results showed that when administered at dosages of 200 mg/kg or more, TM exhibited effects equivalent to those of PB and SB. In addition, the impact of TM administration on hematological characteristics was examined. In female mice administered TM, decreased blood chloride and calcium levels and increased aspartate aminotransferase and alanine aminotransferase levels, which are markers of liver damage, were observed. These findings suggest that high concentrations of TM may affect renal and liver function. This study revealed that TM is effective as a euthanasia agent at dosages of 200 mg/kg or more. However, considering the potential risks of renal and liver damage due to TM administration, it may be preferable to use alternative euthanasia drugs when these risks could affect the objectives or outcomes of the research.
Abstract licence: CC BY-NC-ND
Oxford English Dictionary, 2023
Official Methods of Analysis of AOAC INTERNATIONAL, 2023
Roland R. Griffiths, Jack D. Findley, Joseph V. Brady, et al.
Psychopharmacologia, 1975
H. F. Fraser, A. Wikler, C. F. Essig, et al.
Journal of the American Medical Association, 1958
M. Mccaul, J. Turkkan, D. Svikis, et al.
Alcoholism, clinical and experimental research, 1991
Jerry M. ice, B. Diwan, H. Hu, et al.
Carcinogenesis, 1994
C. Kornetsky, T. Vates, E. Kessler
The Journal of pharmacology and experimental therapeutics, 1959
Sources: aggregated from Europe PMC (EMBL-EBI), OpenAlex, Crossref, PubMed and other open scholarly databases. Retracted articles are excluded. Study information is provided for research purposes and does not constitute medical advice.
Pharmacology and chemical data from DrugBank
Key facts
Drug status
Approved
Major interactions
16 found
Half-life
Not available
Mechanism
Secobarbital binds at a distinct binding site associated with a Cl- ionopore at…
Food interactions
2 warnings
Human targets
11 targets
Data: DrugBank · CC BY-NC 4.0
Pharmacokinetics at a glance
Elimination
Pharmacokinetic data: DrugBank · CC BY-NC 4.0
Known interactions with other medications. Always consult a healthcare professional.
Showing 50 of 1884 interactions
Proteins and enzymes this drug interacts with in the body
PMID:10449790 PMID:29961870 PMID:31032849
GABA-gated chloride channels, also named GABA(A) receptors (GABAAR), consist of five subunits arranged around a central pore and contain GABA active binding site(s) located at the alpha and beta subunit interfaces (By similarity). When activated by GABA, GABAARs selectively allow the flow of chloride anions across the cell membrane down their electrochemical gradient .
PMID:10449790
Chloride influx into the postsynaptic neuron following GABAAR opening decreases the neuron ability to generate a new action potential, thereby reducing nerve transmission (By similarity). The alpha-2 subunit exhibits synaptogenic activity together with beta-2 and very little to no activity together with beta-3, the gamma-2 subunit being necessary but not sufficient to induce rapid synaptic contacts formation (By similarity)
PMID:16412217 PMID:29053855
GABA-gated chloride channels, also named GABA(A) receptors (GABAAR), consist of five subunits arranged around a central pore and contain GABA active binding site(s) located at the alpha and beta subunit interface(s) (By similarity). When activated by GABA, GABAARs selectively allow the flow of chloride anions across the cell membrane down their electrochemical gradient .
PMID:16412217 PMID:29053855
Chloride influx into the postsynaptic neuron following GABAAR opening decreases the neuron ability to generate a new action potential, thereby reducing nerve transmission PMID:16412217 PMID:29053855
PMID:35355020
GABA-gated chloride channels, also named GABA(A) receptors (GABAAR), consist of five subunits arranged around a central pore and contain GABA active binding site(s) located at the alpha and beta subunit interface(s) .
PMID:35355020
When activated by GABA, GABAARs selectively allow the flow of chloride anions across the cell membrane down their electrochemical gradient .
PMID:35355020
GABAARs containing alpha-4 are predominantly extrasynaptic, contributing to tonic inhibition in dentate granule cells and thalamic relay neurons (By similarity). Extrasynaptic alpha-4-containing GABAARs control levels of excitability and network activity (By similarity). GABAAR containing alpha-4-beta-3-delta subunits can simultaneously bind GABA and histamine where histamine binds at the interface of two neighboring beta subunits, which may be involved in the regulation of sleep and wakefulness PMID:35355020
PMID:14993607 PMID:29961870 PMID:30140029 PMID:31056671
GABA-gated chloride channels, also named GABA(A) receptors (GABAAR), consist of five subunits arranged around a central pore and contain GABA active binding site(s) located at the alpha and beta subunit interface(s) .
PMID:30140029
When activated by GABA, GABAARs selectively allow the flow of chloride anions across the cell membrane down their electrochemical gradient .
PMID:14993607 PMID:30140029
GABAARs containing alpha-5/GABRA5 subunits are mainly extrasynaptic and contribute to the tonic GABAergic inhibition in the hippocampus (By similarity). Extrasynaptic alpha-5-containing GABAARs in CA1 pyramidal neurons play a role in learning and memory processes (By similarity)
PMID:8632757
GABA-gated chloride channels, also named GABA(A) receptors (GABAAR), consist of five subunits arranged around a central pore and contain GABA active binding site(s) located at the alpha and beta subunit interface(s) (By similarity). When activated by GABA, GABAARs selectively allow the flow of chloride anions across the cell membrane down their electrochemical gradient (By similarity). Alpha-6/GABRA6 subunits are found at both synaptic and extrasynaptic sites .
PMID:8632757
Chloride influx into the postsynaptic neuron following GABAAR opening decreases the neuron ability to generate a new action potential, thereby reducing nerve transmission (By similarity).
Extrasynaptic alpha-6-containing receptors contribute to the tonic GABAergic inhibition. Alpha-6 subunits are also present on glutamatergic synapses (By similarity)
Enzymes involved in drug metabolism — important for understanding drug interactions
ATC N05CB01
ATC N05CA06
Chemical identifiers
CAS, UNII, InChI Key and database cross-references
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Chemical identifiers
CAS, UNII, InChI Key and database cross-references
Linked compound data from DrugBank Open Data (CC BY-NC 4.0)
Secobarbital
Additional database identifiers
Drugs Product Database (DPD)
8237
ChemSpider
5005
HUGO Gene Nomenclature Committee (HGNC)
HGNC:4076
GenAtlas
GABRA2
GeneCards
GABRA2
GenBank Gene Database
S62907
GenBank Protein Database
386422
Guide to Pharmacology
405
UniProt Accession
GBRA2_HUMAN
HUGO Gene Nomenclature Committee (HGNC)
HGNC:4077
GenAtlas
GABRA3
GeneCards
GABRA3
GenBank Gene Database
S62908
GenBank Protein Database
386424
Guide to Pharmacology
406
UniProt Accession
GBRA3_HUMAN
HUGO Gene Nomenclature Committee (HGNC)
HGNC:4078
GenAtlas
GABRA4
GeneCards
GABRA4
GenBank Gene Database
U30461
GenBank Protein Database
905393
Guide to Pharmacology
407
UniProt Accession
GBRA4_HUMAN
HUGO Gene Nomenclature Committee (HGNC)
HGNC:4079
GenAtlas
GABRA5
GeneCards
GABRA5
GenBank Gene Database
L08485
GenBank Protein Database
182916
Guide to Pharmacology
408
UniProt Accession
GBRA5_HUMAN
HUGO Gene Nomenclature Committee (HGNC)
HGNC:4080
GenAtlas
GABRA6
GeneCards
GABRA6
GenBank Gene Database
S81944
GenBank Protein Database
1470364
Guide to Pharmacology
409
UniProt Accession
GBRA6_HUMAN
HUGO Gene Nomenclature Committee (HGNC)
HGNC:4075
GenAtlas
GABRA1
GeneCards
GABRA1
GenBank Gene Database
X13584
GenBank Protein Database
31631
Guide to Pharmacology
404
UniProt Accession
GBRA1_HUMAN
HUGO Gene Nomenclature Committee (HGNC)
HGNC:1958
GenAtlas
CHRNA4
GeneCards
CHRNA4
GenBank Gene Database
L35901
GenBank Protein Database
755648
Guide to Pharmacology
465
UniProt Accession
ACHA4_HUMAN
HUGO Gene Nomenclature Committee (HGNC)
HGNC:1960
GenAtlas
CHRNA7
GeneCards
CHRNA7
GenBank Gene Database
X70297
GenBank Protein Database
496607
Guide to Pharmacology
468
UniProt Accession
ACHA7_HUMAN
HUGO Gene Nomenclature Committee (HGNC)
HGNC:4572
GenAtlas
GRIA2
GeneCards
GRIA2
GenBank Gene Database
L20814
GenBank Protein Database
493134
Guide to Pharmacology
445
UniProt Accession
GRIA2_HUMAN
HUGO Gene Nomenclature Committee (HGNC)
HGNC:4580
GenAtlas
GRIK2
GeneCards
GRIK2
GenBank Gene Database
U16126
GenBank Protein Database
790532
Guide to Pharmacology
451
UniProt Accession
GRIK2_HUMAN
HUGO Gene Nomenclature Committee (HGNC)
HGNC:4584
GenAtlas
GRIN1
GeneCards
GRIN1
GenBank Gene Database
D13515
GenBank Protein Database
219920
Guide to Pharmacology
455
UniProt Accession
NMDZ1_HUMAN
HUGO Gene Nomenclature Committee (HGNC)
HGNC:4585
GenAtlas
GRIN2A
GeneCards
GRIN2A
GenBank Gene Database
U09002
GenBank Protein Database
558749
Guide to Pharmacology
456
UniProt Accession
NMDE1_HUMAN
HUGO Gene Nomenclature Committee (HGNC)
HGNC:4586
GenAtlas
GRIN2B
GeneCards
GRIN2B
GenBank Gene Database
U90278
GenBank Protein Database
1899202
Guide to Pharmacology
457
UniProt Accession
NMDE2_HUMAN
HUGO Gene Nomenclature Committee (HGNC)
HGNC:4587
GenAtlas
GRIN2C
GeneCards
GRIN2C
GenBank Gene Database
L76224
GenBank Protein Database
1196449
Guide to Pharmacology
458
UniProt Accession
NMDE3_HUMAN
HUGO Gene Nomenclature Committee (HGNC)
HGNC:4588
GenAtlas
GRIN2D
GeneCards
GRIN2D
GenBank Gene Database
U77783
GenBank Protein Database
2444026
UniProt Accession
NMDE4_HUMAN
HUGO Gene Nomenclature Committee (HGNC)
HGNC:16767
GenAtlas
GRIN3A
GeneCards
GRIN3A
GenBank Gene Database
AJ416950
GenBank Protein Database
20372905
UniProt Accession
NMD3A_HUMAN
HUGO Gene Nomenclature Committee (HGNC)
HGNC:16768
GenAtlas
GRIN3B
GeneCards
GRIN3B
GenBank Gene Database
AC004528
GenBank Protein Database
3025446
UniProt Accession
NMD3B_HUMAN
HUGO Gene Nomenclature Committee (HGNC)
HGNC:2596
GenAtlas
CYP1A2
GeneCards
CYP1A2
GenBank Gene Database
Z00036
Guide to Pharmacology
1319
UniProt Accession
CP1A2_HUMAN
HUGO Gene Nomenclature Committee (HGNC)
HGNC:2621
GeneCards
CYP2C19
GenBank Gene Database
M61854
GenBank Protein Database
181344
Guide to Pharmacology
1328
UniProt Accession
CP2CJ_HUMAN
HUGO Gene Nomenclature Committee (HGNC)
HGNC:2622
GenAtlas
CYP2C8
GeneCards
CYP2C8
GenBank Gene Database
M17397
Guide to Pharmacology
1325
UniProt Accession
CP2C8_HUMAN
HUGO Gene Nomenclature Committee (HGNC)
HGNC:2623
GenAtlas
CYP2C9
GeneCards
CYP2C9
GenBank Gene Database
AY341248
Guide to Pharmacology
1326
UniProt Accession
CP2C9_HUMAN
DrugBank citations
If you use DrugBank data in your research, please cite the following publications:
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Structured knowledge from the free knowledge base
ATC classifications (Wikidata)
Linked open data from Wikidata (Q414788), a free and open knowledge base operated by the Wikimedia Foundation. Data is available under the Creative Commons CC0 1.0 Public Domain Dedication. WHO INN from the World Health Organization.