An ultra–short-acting barbiturate administered intravenously or rectally for induction of anesthesia.
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thio·pen·tal so·di·um (thi″o-penґtəl) [USP] an ultra–short-acting barbiturate, administered intravenously or rectally to produce general anesthesia of brief duration, for induction of anesthesia prior to administration of other anesthetics, or to supplement regional anesthesia, and intravenously as an anticonvulsive and for narcoanalysis in psychiatric disorders.Medical dictionary. 2011.