Barbiturates Health Article

Definition

Barbiturates are medicines that act on the central nervous system. They cause drowsiness and can control seizures.

Purpose

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 Although barbiturates have been used to treat nervousness and sleep problems, they have generally been replaced by other medicines for these purposes.

Although barbiturates have largely been replaced by other classes of drugs, some are still used in anesthesiology to induce anesthsia and lower the dose of inhaled anesthetics required for surgical procedures.

Pentobarbital (Nembutal) has been used in neurosurgery to reduce blood flow to the brain. This reduces swelling and pressure in the brain, making brain surgery safer.

Secobarbital (Seconal) may be given by mouth or as a suppository to induce sleepiness and relaxation before local anesthesia or the insertion of a tube into the nose or throat.

These medicines may become habit-forming and should not be used to relieve everyday anxiety and tension or to treat sleeplessness over long periods.

Description

Barbiturates are available only with a physician's prescription and are sold in capsule, tablet, liquid, and injectable forms. Some commonly used barbiturates are phenobarbital (Barbita) and secobarbital (Seconal).

Recommended dosage

Recommended dosage depends on the type of barbiturate and other factors such as the patient's age and the condition for which the medicine is being taken. The patient should consult with the physician who prescribed the drug or the pharmacist who filled the prescription for the correct dosage.

The following recommendations do not apply when barbiturates are given as a single oral or intravenous dose prior to or during surgery. The recommendations should be considered if the drugs are used for treatment of anxiety or seizures.

Patients should always take barbiturates exactly as directed. Larger or more frequent doses should never be taken, and the drug should not be taken for longer than directed. If the medicine does not seem to be working, even after taking it for several weeks, the patient should not increase the dosage. Instead, the physician who prescribed the medicine should be consulted.

People taking barbiturates should not stop taking them suddenly without first checking with the physician who prescribed the medication. It may be necessary to taper the dose gradually to reduce the chance of withdrawal symptoms. If it is necessary to stop taking the drug, the patient should check with the physician for instructions on how to stop.

Precautions

People taking barbiturates must see a physician regularly. The physician will check to make sure the medicine is working as it should and will note unwanted side effects.

Because barbiturates work on the central nervous system, they may add to the effects of alcohol and other drugs that slow the central nervous system, such as antihistamines, cold medicine, allergy medicine, sleep aids, medicine for seizures, tranquilizers, some pain relievers, and muscle relaxants. They may also add to the effects of anesthetics, including those used for dental procedures. The combined effects of barbiturates and alcohol or other CNS depressants (drugs that slow the central nervous system) can be very dangerous, leading to unconsciousness or even death. Anyone taking barbiturates should not drink alcohol and should check with his or her physician before taking any medicines classified as CNS depressants.

Taking an overdose of barbiturates or combining barbiturates with alcohol or other central nervous system depressants can cause unconsciousness and even death. Anyone who shows signs of an overdose or a reaction to combining barbiturates with alcohol or other drugs should get emergency medical help immediately. Signs include:

• severe drowsiness
• breathing problems
• slurred speech
• staggering
• slow heartbeat
• severe confusion
• severe weakness

Barbiturates may change the results of certain medical tests. Before having medical tests, anyone taking this medicine should alert the health care professional in charge.

People may feel drowsy, dizzy, lightheaded, or less alert when using these drugs. These effects may even occur the morning after taking a barbiturate at bedtime. Because of these possible effects, anyone who takes these drugs should not drive, use machines or do anything else that might be dangerous until they have found out how the drugs affect him or her.

Barbiturates may cause physical or mental dependence when taken over long periods. Anyone who shows these signs of dependence should check with his or her physician right away:

• the need to take larger and larger doses of the medicine to get the same effect
• a strong desire to keep taking the medicine
• withdrawal symptoms, such as anxiety, nausea or vomiting, convulsions, trembling, or sleep problems, when the medicine is stopped

Children may be especially sensitive to barbiturates. This sensitivity may increase the chance of side effects such as unusual excitement.

Older people may also be more sensitive than others to the effects of this medicine. In older people, barbiturates may be more likely to cause confusion, depression, and unusual excitement. These effects are also more likely in people who are very ill.