What are Barbiturates?
Barbiturates are depressants or ‘downers’ which act on the central nervous system (CNS) by producing a generalised sedation; they are commonly used as a sedative or for anaesthesia. They can be both physically and psychologically addictive and have now largely been replaced by Benzodiazepines as these are regarded as being considerably less dangerous in overdose.
Gamma amino-butyric acid (GABA) is a chemical that occurs naturally in the body. When GABA is released in the brain, it acts to decrease nerve activity in the brain. Barbiturates act to increase the actions of GABA in the brain, thereby decreasing nerve activity. They work by reducing the respiration and heart rate, thus reducing anxiety levels.
They are usually sold in capsule form with a powder inside and taken orally; however, they can also be injected, although this can be highly dangerous.
Barbiturate Brand Names
Barbiturate brand names include some of the following:
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Sodium Pentothal (Thiopental)
Thiopental is an ultra short-acting barbiturate and is usually administered intravenously. It is used to prepare patients for surgery and produces an unconscious effect within about one minute of administration. Because it is usually only used in hospital settings, it is not very likely to be abused compared to other short/intermediate-acting barbiturates. It is a Class B controlled drug.
- Amytal or Amytal Sodium (Amylobarbitone)
Amylobarbitone is a short-acting barbiturate and is commonly prescribed as a blue capsule with a therapeutic dose range of 60 to 200mg strength. It has sedative-hypnotic and analgesic properties, but also has a reputation for having activity as a ‘truth serum’ whereby a person under the influence of the drug will submit to almost any given request by another person. It is a Class B controlled drug.
- Soneryl (Butobarbitone/Butabarbital)
Butobarbitone/Butabarbital is administered in tablet or liquid form and has a therapeutic dose range of 100 to 200mg. It has a particularly fast onset of effects and short duration of action compared to other barbiturates. It is used primarily for the treatment of insomnia, but also as a sedative for those suffering with anxiety, particularly before surgery. It is a Class B controlled drug, although if injected, it is categorised as Class A.
- Prominal (Methyl Phenobarbitone)
Methyl Phenobarbitone is a long-acting barbiturate and is usually prescribed as a white tablet with a therapeutic dose range of 60 to 200mg, marked with ‘P60’ or ‘P200’ respectively. It is used primarily as a sedative hypnotic for the relief of anxiety, but also as an anticonvulsant for the treatment of epilepsy. It is a Class B controlled drug.
- Nembutal (Pentobarbitone)
Pentobarbitone is a short/intermediate-acting barbiturate and is usually prescribed as a sedative/sleeping pill with a therapeutic dose range from 100 to 200mg. The effect of Pentobarbitone usually takes effect within 15 to 40 minutes and can last between 5 to 6 hours. It is a Class B controlled drug.
- Luminal (Phenobarbitone)
Phenobarbitone is a long-acting barbiturate and is usually prescribed in tablet, capsule or liquid form with a therapeutic dose range from 60 to 180mg and it is taken orally. It is a long-acting barbiturate and is usually prescribed at bedtime for the treatment of insomnia. However, it is also the oldest and most widely used anticonvulsant for the treatment of epilepsy. The effect of Phenobarbitone usually peaks around 8 to 12 hours after oral administration and can remain in the body from 2 to 7 days. It is a Class B controlled drug, although if injected, it is categorised as Class A.
- Seconal Sodium (Quinalbarbitone)
Quinalbarbitone is a short/intermediate-acting barbiturate and is usually prescribed as an orange capsule in either 50 or 100mg strength, marked F42 and F40 respectively. It is used primarily for insomnia and can be either swallowed or injected. The effect of Quinalbarbitone usually lasts from 3 to 6 hours, and withdrawal usually begins within 24 hours. It is a Class B controlled drug, although if injected, it is categorised as Class A.
- Tuinal (Quinalbarbitone and Amylobarbitone)
Tuinal is a combination of Quinalbarbitone and Amylobarbitone and is used as a short/intermediate and long-acting barbiturate. It is usually prescribed as an orange/blue capsule in 100mg strength, marked with ‘Lilly F65’. It is used primarily for insomnia and can be either swallowed or injected. The effect of Tuinal usually lasts from 3 to 6 hours, and withdrawal usually begins within 24 hours. It is a Class B controlled drug, although if injected, it is categorised as Class A.
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How they are Used?
Barbiturates are broken down into three categories according to their speed of onset and duration of effect:
- Ultra-short acting
These are commonly used for anaesthesia as their extremely short duration of effect allows for greater control for those prescribing the drug. It allows for doctors to put patients ‘under’ in a very short space of time when emergency treatment is required, and due to their short-term effect, patients can also be quickly brought out of anaesthesia should any complications arise.
- Short/Intermediate-acting
Short/intermediate-acting barbiturates are usually prescribed as sedatives and sleeping pills. Short/intermediate-acting barbiturates usually take effect within 15 to 40 minutes and can last from 5 to 6 hours.
- Long-acting
Long acting barbiturates are used primarily for insomnia and anxiety, although they can also be used for the treatment of delirium tremens (DT’s) in those detoxifying from an alcohol dependency. Because of their sedative effect, they can also be used in the treatment of epilepsy (Phenobarbital). Long acting barbiturates usually take effect within one to 2 hours, and can last for 12 hours in some patients.
Those who abuse barbiturates report that a high makes them feel ‘sociable, relaxed and good humoured’. Users typically describe feelings of decreased anxiety, a loss of inhibitions and an increased sense of confidence. Physical effects include slowed breathing and a lowering of both blood pressure and heart rate.
Like alcohol, barbiturates are intoxicating. During the stage after mild intoxication, the user’s speech may become slurred and a loss of coordination may become noticeable. Stumbling and staggering are also common. Other symptoms may include shallow breathing, fatigue, frequent yawning and irritability.
What are the Side Effects?
Barbiturates can be highly addictive and carry a serious risk of overdose. They can be fatal when mixed with tranquillisers or alcohol and long-term users are also at risk of developing bronchitis or pneumonia, aggressive behaviour, impaired memory and insomnia.
Accidental overdose of Barbiturates is very common and can lead to respiratory failure, coma and even death.
What are the Withdrawal Effects?
Withdrawal from barbiturates will usually begin with 24 hours of the last dose, peak around 2 days and then fade over the next week to 10 days. Typical withdrawal effects can include some or all of the following:
- Tremor and Insomnia
- Anxiety
- Restlessness
- Increased heart rate
- Delirium and seizures
Patients should only ever withdraw from Barbiturates at a medically recommended rate, as discontinuing the drug abruptly can lead to any or all of the above symptoms.
Common Street Names
Common street names for barbiturates include barbs, red devils, goof balls, chewies, yellow jackets, block busters, rainbows, pinks, reds, Christmas trees, nembies and seggies.
For further information regarding treatment for the misuse of Barbiturates, please feel free to contact one of our First4Rehab advisors, either by phone or email. Or if you prefer, drop us a text on the number listed below.
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