Barbiturates
- Barbiturates are medicines that act on the central nervous system. They cause drowsiness and can control seizures.
Purpose
- Barbiturates are central nervous system depressants. They are used therapeutically as sedatives, hypnotics, and anticonvulsants. Barbiturates are almost always taken orally as capsules or tablets. The effects resemble those of intoxication with alcohol. Chronic use of barbiturates leads to tolerance and physical dependence. Short acting Barbiturates taken at 400 mg/day for 2-3 months can produce a clinically significant degree of physical dependence. Withdrawal symptoms experienced during periods of drug abstinence can be severe enough to cause death. Only a small amount (less than 5%) of most Barbiturates are excreted unaltered in the urine.
Short Acting (e.g. Secobarbital) 100 mg PO (oral) 4.5 days
Long Acting (e.g. Phenobarbital) 400 mg PO (oral) 7 days
- Barbiturates are in the group of medicines known as central nervous system depressants (CNS). Also known as sedative-hypnotic drugs, barbiturates make people very relaxed, calm, and sleepy. These drugs are sometimes used to help patients relax before surgery. Some may also be used to control seizures (convulsions). Although barbiturates have been used to treat nervousness and sleep problems, they have generally been replaced by other medicines for these purposes.
Serious Side Effects:
If any of the following side effects occur, the physician who prescribed the medicine should be contacted immediately:
- Fever
- Muscle or joint pain
- Sore Throat
- Chest Pain
- Wheezing
- Skin Problems, such as rash, hives, or red, thickened, or scaly skin
- Sores or painful white spots in the mouth
- Swollen eyelids, face, or lips
Phenobarbital
- Mysoline
- Primidone
- Luminal
- Phenobarbitone
- Secobarbital
- Seconal
- Amobarbital Pentobarbital
- Amytal
- Amylobarbitone
- Nebutal
- Butalbital
- Fioricet
- Fiorinal
- Butabarbital
- Butisol
Street Names:
- Yellow Jackets
- Yellows
- Red Birds
- Reds
- Barbs
- Tooies
- Phennies