HOW DO BARBITURATES WORK?
Barbiturates are drugs used to prevent and treat anxiety and anxiety-related disorders. They act by depressing the central nervous system, particularly certain portions of the brain.
Barbiturates mainly work by affecting the inhibitory neurotransmitters in the brain. Neurotransmitters are chemicals that nerves release to communicate with other nearby nerves. Specifically, barbiturates depress the central nervous system by enhancing the activity of gamma-aminobutyric acid (GABA). GABA is an inhibitory neurotransmitter that suppresses any generated nerve impulse, thus creating an overall depression of the central nervous system. Barbiturates bind to the GABA receptors and open the chloride channel in the GABA neurotransmitter, thus reducing the stimulation of nerve impulses to produce sedation, drowsiness, and hypnosis.
HOW ARE BARBITURATES USED?
Barbiturates are administered orally or by the intravenous route to induce:
- Sedation
- Hypnosis
They are mainly used to treat:
- Anxiety and anxiety-related disorders
- Advanced-stage epilepsy
- Different types of seizures
- Insomnia
Besides, they may be used for recreational purposes.
WHAT ARE SIDE EFFECTS OF BARBITURATES?
Some of the common side effects of barbiturates may include:
- Dizziness
- Drowsiness
- Fatigue
- Headache
- Nausea
- Sedation
- Skin rash
- Hypotension (low blood pressure)
Serious side effects of barbiturates may include:
- Coma
- Confusion
- Fainting
- Hallucinations
- Abnormally slow breathing
- Temporary breathing cessation
Rare side effects of barbiturates may include:
- Liver injury
- Agranulocytosis (an acute condition causing dangerously low white blood cell count)
- Erythroderma (an inflammatory skin disease with redness and scaling)
- Stevens-Johnson syndrome (a rare, severe disorder of the skin and mucous membranes)
- Megaloblastic anemia (a condition in which the bone marrow produces unusually large, structurally abnormal, immature red blood cells)
The information contained herein is not intended to cover all possible side effects, precautions, warnings, drug interactions, allergic reactions, or adverse effects. Check with your doctor or pharmacist to make sure these drugs do not cause any harm when you take them along with other medicines. Never stop taking your medication and never change your dose or frequency without consulting your doctor.
WHAT ARE NAMES OF BARBITURATES?
Generic and brand names of barbiturates include:
- Amobarbital
- Amytal sodium
- Brevital
- Methohexital
- Nembutal
- Pentobarbital
- Secobarbital
- Seconal
