This drug is a barbiturate that induces general anesthesia when administered intravenously. It can reach effective clinical concentrations in the brain within 30 seconds, according to an Amnesty International report. For surgical operations, patients are given a dose of 100 to 150 milligrams over a period of 10 to 15 seconds. This in itself is a lethal dose. It's believed by some that after this anesthetic is delivered, the inmate doesn't feel anything.
Saline solution flushes the intravenous line.
Conventionally, this drug takes effect in one to three minutes after being injected. Other chemicals that can be used as a paralyzing agent include tubocurarine chloride and succinylcholine chloride. Saline solution flushes the intravenous line. This induces cardiac arrest. Within a minute or two after the last drug is administered, a physician or medical technician declares the inmate dead.