Use

Secobarbital is a short-acting barbiturate with hypnotic properties used as a preanesthetic agent and in the short-term treatment of insomnia. The test is useful for monitoring secobarbital therapy to ensure therapeutic levels while avoiding toxicity. Secobarbital is administered orally, and its hypnotic effect lasts about 3 to 4 hours. Monitoring concentrations above 5 mcg/mL is critical as they may be associated with toxicity. The drug has a volume of distribution of 1.6 to 1.9 L/kg and is 46% to 70% bound to plasma proteins, with metabolism primarily occurring via hepatic microsomal enzymes.