Barbiturates are a group of drugs that have calming effects on the body. They can produce effects similar to those of alcohol, ranging from mild relaxation to an inability to feel pain and loss of consciousness. The first barbiturates were made in the s by the Bayer laboratories in Germany.
Barbiturates increase the activity of a chemical in the brain that helps transmit signals. This chemical is known as gamma amino butyric acid GABA. As a medication, they reduce muscle spasms, relieve anxiety , prevent seizures, and induce sleep. As a recreational drug, they produce effects similar to those of alcohol:.
How quickly barbiturates act and how long their effects last can vary. They can be classified as ultra short-, short-, intermediate-, and long-acting. When people take barbiturates by mouth, their effects begin within 30 minutes of swallowing and last from 4 to 16 hours.
Barbiturates mainly phenobarbital are occasionally used by doctors to treat the following conditions :. Today, it is rare to use them for sleep disorders. Phenobarbital is most likely to be used for treating seizures. The World Health Organization WHO list it as a first-line treatment for epilepsy for adults and children in the developing world, because of its low cost and proven effectiveness. In the late s and s, there was an increase in reports of barbiturate overdoses and dependence problems, and physicians stopped prescribing them.
Eventually, barbiturates were scheduled as controlled drugs. Presently, barbiturates are nearly nonexistent on the black market. However, although illegal barbiturate use is rare, it remains an extremely dangerous drug to abuse because of the high risk of fatal overdose.
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These drugs also affect the CNS in several different ways and can produce effects ranging from mild sedation to a coma depending upon the dosage. Low doses of barbiturates can lower anxiety levels and relieve tension, while higher doses can decrease the heart rate and blood pressure.
Barbiturates have some severe drawbacks, including:. For more mental health resources, see our National Helpline Database. Learn the best ways to manage stress and negativity in your life. Barbiturate intoxication and overdose. Updated June 23, Drugs used in physician-assisted death. Drugs Aging. How theories evolved concerning the mechanism of action of barbiturates.
Updated June 15, Pentobarbital toxicity after self-administration of euthasol veterinary euthanasia medication. Case Rep Emerg Med. Call your local emergency number, such as , if someone has taken barbiturates and seems extremely tired or has breathing problems.
Your local poison control center can be reached directly by calling the national toll-free Poison Help hotline from anywhere in the United States. This national hotline will let you talk to experts in poisoning. They will give you further instructions. This is a free and confidential service. All local poison control centers in the United States use this national number. You should call if you have any questions about poisoning or poison control.
It does NOT need to be an emergency. You can call for any reason, 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. Aronson JK. In: Aronson JK, ed. Meyler's Side Effects of Drugs.
Waltham, MA: Elsevier; Gussow L, Carlson A.
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