These barbiturates are primarily used for treating sleeping disorders, like insomnia, for short periods of time. These drugs have also be used in lethal injection and assisted suicide. These drugs are effective within a minute and last a short time. To achieve this goal, we set strict guidelines for our editorial team to follow when writing about facilities and utilize behavioral healthcare experts to review medical content for accuracy. However, barbiturates are highly addictive, and abusing them can have dire consequence. Some barbiturates can take effect in seconds, others take over an hour.

• In the medical profession, this difference is called a narrow therapeutic index.
• Barbiturates like phenobarbital are still used in specific cases of epilepsy, particularly in children, and for preventing withdrawal symptoms in patients detoxifying from other sedatives.
• The longest-acting barbiturates have half-lives of a day or more, and subsequently result in bioaccumulation of the drug in the system.
• Users who consume alcohol or other sedatives after the drug’s effects have worn off, but before it has cleared the system, may experience a greatly exaggerated effect from the other sedatives which can be incapacitating or even fatal.

The National Institute on Drug Abuse (2023) shows that barbiturate withdrawal mortality rates can reach up to 10% without medical intervention, highlighting their high addiction potential. Barbiturates cause severe physical and psychological dependence, with life-threatening withdrawal symptoms, while benzodiazepines, although also addictive, have a slightly lower risk profile. Barbiturates carry a high risk of misuse, abuse, and addiction due to their rapid tolerance development and strong physical dependence potential. Common side effects of barbiturates include drowsiness, dizziness, and confusion, while severe effects like respiratory depression, coma, and death occur at higher doses. The history of Barbiturate Withdrawal Case barbiturates started in the early 20th century as a treatment for anxiety, insomnia, and epilepsy. Many street drugs are barbiturates, such as downers, yellow jackets, red birds, and rainbows.

• Thus, the story of barbiturates reflects a journey from medical innovation to caution, reminding both patients and professionals of the need for vigilance with these powerful medications.
• These drugs act as central nervous system depressants, providing sedation and seizure control by enhancing GABA activity in the brain.
• Recognizing the signs of barbiturate overdose could help save someone’s life.

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Other effects of barbiturate intoxication include drowsiness, lateral and vertical nystagmus, slurred speech and ataxia, decreased anxiety, and loss of inhibitions. Barbital, methylphenobarbital (also known as mephobarbital), and phenobarbital are designated schedule IV drugs, and «Any substance which contains any quantity of a derivative of barbituric acid, or any salt of a derivative of barbituric acid» (all other barbiturates) were designated as being schedule III. Among that group of drugs are the barbiturates amobarbital, butalbital, cyclobarbital, and pentobarbital. In the Netherlands, the Opium Law classifies all barbiturates as List II drugs, with the exception of secobarbital, which is on List I.

Are barbiturates the same as benzodiazepines?

Additionally, thiopental, an ultra-short-acting barbiturate, remains relevant in medical settings as an induction agent for anesthesia. Historically, barbiturates were widely prescribed for conditions such as anxiety, sleep disorders, and epilepsy due to their effectiveness in calming brain activity. According to the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA), these terms are widely used among recreational users to identify the drugs’ sedative properties and potential for abuse. Barbiturate prescriptions have become rare in the United States, with reports from the National Institute on Drug Abuse (NIDA) showing a sharp decline in their prevalence due to the risks of overdose, addiction, and the introduction of safer alternatives.

Overdose

Ingeborg Bachmann may have died of the consequences of barbiturate withdrawal (she was hospitalized with burns, the doctors treating her were not aware of her barbiturate addiction). Others who have died as a result of barbiturate overdose include Pier Angeli, Brian Epstein, Judy Garland, Jimi Hendrix, Inger Stevens, Dinah Washington, Ellen Wilkinson, and Alan Wilson; in some cases these have been speculated to be suicides as well. People who are known to have killed themselves by barbiturate overdose include Stefan Zweig, Charles Boyer, Ruan Lingyu, Dalida, Jeannine Deckers, Felix Hausdorff, Abbie Hoffman, Phyllis Hyman, Carole Landis, C. P. Ramanujam, George Sanders, Jean Seberg, Lupe Vélez and the members of Heaven’s Gate cult. This can result in fatal overdoses from drugs such as codeine, tramadol, and carisoprodol, which become considerably more potent after being metabolized by CYP enzymes. Barbiturates induce a number of hepatic CYP enzymes (most notably CYP2C9, CYP2C19, and CYP3A4), leading to exaggerated effects from many prodrugs and decreased effects from drugs which are metabolized by these enzymes to inactive metabolites. Barbiturates in overdose with other CNS (central nervous system) depressants (e.g. alcohol, opiates, benzodiazepines) are even more dangerous owing to additive CNS and respiratory depressant effects.

What Makes Barbiturates Highly Addictive Compared to Other Drugs?

Short acting barbiturates usually take ten to fifteen minutes to take effect and can last approximately three to four hours. Long acting barbiturates take about an hour before they take effect and last approximately twelve hours, which make them useful for treating seizures disorders. Short and intermediate acting barbiturates are helpful for sleep disorders and last between three to eight hours. Ultra short acting barbiturates are injected intravenously and used in anesthesia. The strength of a barbiturate is measured by how much of the drug is needed to produce sedative effects and how long those effects last in the body.

How Severe Are Barbiturate Withdrawals Compared to Other Substances?

Someone who is addicted to barbiturates needs prolonged therapy to prevent dangerous withdrawal symptoms. The treatment of barbiturate abuse or overdose is generally supportive, meaning that the staff works to make sure the person doesn’t get worse. Someone who has taken a barbiturate and has symptoms of side effects or an overdose must be cared for in an emergency room. Symptoms of withdrawal after you stop taking barbiturates include tremors, difficulty sleeping, agitation, and hallucinations. The barbiturates counteract the excitement and alertness obtained from stimulant drugs like cocaine and methamphetamines. The street names of commonly misused barbiturates describe the desired effect of the drug or the color and markings on the actual pill.

What Conditions Commonly Co-occur with Barbiturate Use?

MentalHealth.com is a health technology company guiding people towards self-understanding and connection. The Clinical Affairs Team at MentalHealth.com is a dedicated group of medical professionals with diverse and extensive clinical experience. Although addiction remains a possibility, the real focus is on prevention, open communication, and choosing safer therapies whenever possible.

That said, some people who have overdosed will die despite intensive emergency care. The amount of support required depends on the person’s symptoms. Learn more about the consequences of untreated substance abuse. Barbiturates can act very quickly, so while someone may only be drowsy or seem intoxicated, more serious symptoms can develop quickly and unpredictably.

Possession of barbiturates without a valid prescription is considered a criminal offense, with charges ranging from misdemeanors to felonies based on the quantity and intent, such as personal use versus distribution. Barbiturates are classified as Schedule II, III, or IV controlled substances under federal law, depending on their medical use and potential for abuse, and North Carolina enforces these classifications with stringent monitoring and penalties. The legal complications of barbiturate use in North Carolina are strict prescription regulations, severe penalties for unauthorized possession, and criminal charges for misuse or distribution. According to the National Institute on Drug Abuse (NIDA), the transition to these alternatives has greatly decreased the prevalence of barbiturate-related dependency and overdoses in the United States. Implementing prescription monitoring programs and raising public awareness about the dangers of barbiturate dependency are also effective strategies for reducing misuse. According to the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA), individuals who seek professional care for barbiturate addiction are significantly more likely to achieve sustained recovery compared to those attempting detox without supervision.

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These occur because barbiturates excessively suppress the central nervous system, leading to a critical loss of brain function that results in coma or death without immediate medical intervention. The symptoms of barbiturate overdose are severe respiratory depression, unconsciousness, pinpoint pupils, and slowed heart rate. Behavioral signs such as secretive actions, neglecting responsibilities, and using barbiturates without a prescription are also common indicators of substance abuse. Recreational users frequently mix barbiturates with alcohol or opioids, amplifying their effects, which lead to life-threatening respiratory depression. Intravenous use, though less common, involves injecting liquid barbiturates directly into the bloodstream, resulting in a rapid and intense sedative effect but significantly increasing the risk of overdose and infection.

What Are the Side Effects of Barbiturates?

You shouldn’t ignore the symptoms of barbiturate withdrawal. That means your body needs the drug, and if you don’t get it, you can experience withdrawal symptoms. Over time, your body develops a dependence on barbiturates.

This is why barbiturates are so dangerous and why they’re not often prescribed today. In general, barbiturates are relaxants, much like alcohol. Since it’s a combination of these two drugs, it can start taking effect after only 15 minutes or so, but it can last as long as 8 hours. It’s a short-acting drug, starting to have an effect in 10 to 15 minutes, but only lasting three to four hours.

These drugs work by depressing the central nervous system, producing effects ranging from mild relaxation to deep sedation depending on the specific medication and dosage. At Recovery Guide, our mission is to connect as many individuals struggling with mental health and substance abuse disorders to reputable treatment facilities. A key reason why healthcare providers don’t prescribe barbiturates as often now is the risk of misusing them. That can help you avoid problems related to barbiturate misuse, such as barbiturate addiction.

Barbiturates belong to the sedative-hypnotic class of medications. Barbiturates are medications that cause you to relax or feel drowsy. Cleveland Clinic is a non-profit academic medical center. However, they can be a backup treatment when others don’t work. Barbiturates are sedative-hypnotic medications, meaning they cause you to feel relaxed or sleepy.