• What are barbiturates?
• How are they taken?
• What are the effects?
• What are the dangers?
• Are they addictive?

What are barbiturates?

• Barbiturates were introduced in the early 1900s (for medical use) as sedatives, hypnotics, anesthetics and anticonvulsants.
  
• These drugs cause depression (or slowing down) of the central nervous system (your brain and spinal cord).
  
• There are four kinds of barbiturates:
  • "Ultra short-acting" barbiturates: Methohexital (Brevital), Thiamylal (Surital) and Thiopental (Pentothal).
    
  • "Short-acting" and "intermediate-acting" barbiturates: Pentobarbital (Nembutal) and Secobarbital (Amytal)
    
  • "Long-acting" barbiturates: Phenobarbital (Luminal) and Mephobarbital (Mebaral).

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How are they taken?

• By needle (intravenously): "Ultra short-acting" barbiturates.
  
• By mouth: "Short-acting," "intermediate-acting" and "long-acting" barbiturates.

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What are the effects?

• "Ultra short-acting" barbiturates produce anesthesia within one minute after intravenous use.
  
• "Short-acting" and "intermediate-acting" barbiturates take effect within 15 to 40 minutes and last up to six hours. Used for sedation or to induce sleep.
  
• "Long-acting" barbiturates take effect in an hour and last up to 12 hours. Used primarily for daytime sedation and the treatment of seizure disorders or mild anxiety.
  
• The effects of all barbiturates resemble those of alcohol intoxication including:
  • Slurred speech.
    
  • Loss of motor coordination.
    
  • Impaired judgment.

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What are the dangers?

• Physical dependence (aka: addiction).
  
• Tolerance, which results in the need to take higher doses to get the same effect. These higher doses could be deadly and lead to an overdose.
  
• Withdrawal from the use of depressants can lead to seizures, delirium and death.

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Are they addictive?

Addiction rarely occurs among people who use a pain reliever, CNS depressant, or stimulant as prescribed; however, inappropriate use of prescription drugs can lead to addiction in some cases.
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