Table of ContentsView AllTable of ContentsWhat They TreatExamplesRisks of UseSide Effects

Table of ContentsView All

View All

Table of Contents

What They Treat

Examples

Risks of Use

Side Effects

Barbituratesare a type of drug that slows down brain activity.Barbiturates have been used for several conditions, including insomnia, anxiety, muscle spasms, and seizures.

However, this drug class has several potential side effects, such as sleepiness and irritability.There might also be problems with coordination, memory, and judgment. Other risks may include overdose andsubstance use disorder (SUD).

How Are Barbiturates Used?

Barbiturates slow down thecentral nervous system (CNS), which includes the brain and the spinal cord.

During the early to mid-1900s, barbiturates were common medications for sleep. However, experts no longer use barbiturates for sleep due to side effects and overdose risk.

While some people still use barbiturates for headaches, experts also no longer recommend barbiturates for this purpose.In fact, overuse of barbiturates can causerebound headachesor medication overuse headaches (MOH).

Barbiturates may still be useful for:

Seizures

While there are some pros, phenobarbital does have some cons as well. This medication can cause extreme sleepiness and behavioral changes in some people. In addition, withdrawal seizures are possible when suddenly stopping the drug after long-term use.

Electroconvulsive Therapy

Another barbiturate—methohexital—is considered the gold standard forECT (shock therapy).

ECT is sometimes used for various mental health conditions, such astreatment-resistant depressionand schizophrenia. However, some people cannot take methohexital due to its effects on blood flow. It also lowers the seizure threshold, which can increase the risk of having a seizure.

Essential Tremors

Experts frequently use either propranolol (a beta-blocker medication used to treat heart problems) or a barbiturate—primidone—as a first-line medication for essential tremors. However, many people will not respond to either of these medications.

Surgical Procedures

Barbiturates—like pentobarbital—may also be useful for specific surgical procedures involving brain vessels. According to a review article, barbiturates have protective effects on the brain and relieve pressure in the skull from a buildup of thecerebrospinal fluid(CSF) that surrounds and protects the brain.

However, barbiturates should only be used when the benefits outweigh the risks. Barbiturates are linked to severe side effects, such as brain temperature effects, low blood pressure, heart rhythm problems, and other heart-related effects.

Examples of Barbiturates

Examples of Food and Drug Administration (FDA)–approved barbiturates include:

The barbiturate drug class also includes butalbital, which is used to treat pain and headaches.Butalbital comes in various combination products, such as Fioricet.

There are also versions of Fioricet (butalbital/acetaminophen/caffeine) with codeine.

Barbiturate use comes with several risks, including:

You may further increase the risk of some of these when you take a barbiturate with another medication.

For example, you are more likely to experience asevere heart rhythm problemwith medications that also have this effect.If you take other medications that slow down brain activity, you might increase your risk of excessive sleepiness and dangerously slow breathing rate.

Barbiturate Overdose

Barbiturate use is linked to a higher risk of SUD, which may lead tooverdose.Symptoms of a barbiturate overdose include:

Complications from a barbiturate overdose may involve:

Barbiturates slow down brain activity. Side effects include:

At high doses with long-term use, possible side effects include:

The following serious side effects are also possible:

What Drugs Are Similar to Barbiturates?Barbiturates slow down brain activity.In general, similar drugs to barbiturates are known as CNS depressants. Examples include opioids, alcohol, andbenzodiazepines.Benzodiazepines, for example, are very similar to barbiturates. Both drugs have effects on thegamma-aminobutyric acid (GABA)receptor, which is a binding site in the brain that responds to the neurotransmitter GABA. GABA plays a role in several functions, including emotion, pain, sleep, and cognition.

What Drugs Are Similar to Barbiturates?

Barbiturates slow down brain activity.In general, similar drugs to barbiturates are known as CNS depressants. Examples include opioids, alcohol, andbenzodiazepines.Benzodiazepines, for example, are very similar to barbiturates. Both drugs have effects on thegamma-aminobutyric acid (GABA)receptor, which is a binding site in the brain that responds to the neurotransmitter GABA. GABA plays a role in several functions, including emotion, pain, sleep, and cognition.

Barbiturates slow down brain activity.In general, similar drugs to barbiturates are known as CNS depressants. Examples include opioids, alcohol, andbenzodiazepines.

Benzodiazepines, for example, are very similar to barbiturates. Both drugs have effects on thegamma-aminobutyric acid (GABA)receptor, which is a binding site in the brain that responds to the neurotransmitter GABA. GABA plays a role in several functions, including emotion, pain, sleep, and cognition.

Summary

Barbiturates have several uses, but this drug class is not without side effects. Barbiturate overdose is also a risk. Therefore, barbiturate use is not as common as it once was. However, it might still be useful in some situations, such as certain seizures, ECT, essential tremors, and specific procedures.

16 Sources

Verywell Health uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.

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