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…