Barbiturates: Facts, Addiction and Effects
Barbiturates are a type of sedative or depressant drug. They are an old group of drugs used to ease the body and aid people in sleeping.
Fast facts on barbiturates
- Barbiturates were first prepared in 1864 and became prevalent sleeping pills.
- Between the 1920s and the mid-1950s, barbiturates were the only drugs used as hypnotics and sedatives.
- Barbiturate in the form of sodium pentothal is known as “truth serum.” In higher doses, it has been used in mortal injection executions.
- When barbiturate use becomes physically dependent then sudden withdrawal can result in death.
- Vets use barbiturates to put some animals to sleep.
Side effects
When used according to prescription, the most common effects of barbiturates are relaxation, drowsiness, and feeling sick.
Some serious side effects of barbiturates include:
- confusion
- lack of coordination
- headache
- problems with memorizing things
- vomiting
- respiratory seizure and death
A most important problem is that they can cause dependence and tolerance.
Tolerance is when a larger amount of a drug is needed to get the preferred effect. Dependence is when a person stops drug use, and withdrawal symptoms occur.
Risk
Death from overdose is the most substantial risk accompanying barbiturate use.
Symptoms of an overdose of barbiturates include:
- slurred speech
- lack of coordination
- difficulty in thinking
- drowsiness
- poor judgment
- shallow breathing
- coma
- kidney failure
- death
Barbiturate overdose is more likely to be found in developing countries, where its low cost has led to more of its use to control and prevent seizures.
Because of its comforting effects on various body organs, long-term barbiturate use can result in pneumonia and breathing problems. Long-term use can also cause a short attention span, delayed reflexes, sexual dysfunction, and memory loss.
People who regularly use barbiturates may touch a constant state that is comparable to a drunken daze.
The dangers and effects of barbiturate use increase critically if they are taken along with alcohol.
If a person uses barbiturates more, the partition line between a dose that causes the preferred effect and that of a deadly overdose becomes narrower. This makes its overdoses more addictive in long-term use such as for more than two weeks.
Withdrawal symptoms
Suddenly leaving barbiturate drugs can quickly lead to serious withdrawal symptoms. These symptoms may include:
- restlessness
- insomnia
- anxiety
- stomach cramping
- vomiting
- nausea
- hallucinations
- thoughts of suicide
Barbiturate withdrawal can also be life-threatening. Up to 75% of persons withdrawing from this drug may have seizures along with confusion and raised body temperature. Up to 66% of people may have delirium for many days.
The confusion is the same as that occurs during alcohol withdrawal, known as delirium tremens (DTs). Individuals who are withdrawing may experience disorientation, anxiety, and visual hallucinations. If not treated on time, this withdrawal can result in heart failure, high fever, and eventually death.
Medical care in the hospital is normally needed to treat barbiturate withdrawal.
Conclusion
Barbiturates are sedative treatment medications that form a wide range of calming effects on the body, ranging from minor sedation to coma. These drugs are linked with a high rate of dependency and a little window between effective and deadly doses.