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Barbiturates

Barbiturates fall under the category of sedative-hypnotics. Barbiturates are used for calming, relaxation, and sedation so they may also be referred to as central nervous system depressants. At higher doses, barbiturates can be used for inducing sleep. Nicknamed after their colorful appearance, slang terms for barbiturates include phennies, redbirds, tooies, reds, yellow jackets, barbs, and yellows.

History

Adolph von Baeyer is credited with the discovery of barbiturates in 1863. Synthesizing uric acid, he named it barbituric acid, or barbiturates. It is said the name was derived from the Day of Saint Barbara. Von Baeyer celebrated his discovery at a tavern with army officers commemorating the day in honor of the artillerymen patron saint. Barbital was the first medical application of barbiturates. In 1903, barbital was first used for treating nervousness and anxiety. The brand name of barbital as it was introduced was Veronal. The second barbiturate introduced to the market came in 1912. Called phenobarbital, it also was used to treat anxiety and to induce relaxation. The names of barbiturates all end in -al. This indicates a chemical relationship to barbital. These barbiturates soon became the replacement for bromides, and they were used mainly for anxiety. Although barbiturates were first thought of as safe and effective, problems soon surfaced with overdoses and users developing dependence and tolerance. Today, barbiturates are used only in a limited capacity for anxiety.

Sedative-hypnotics have enjoyed widespread popularity, particularly throughout the 1960s and 1970s. Due to overprescription, thousands of people, particularly American women, became dependent upon them. Prescriptions for barbiturates are on the decline recently, however, as other drugs are not as likely to lead to dependency and can be less toxic. Today, barbiturates have been replaced mainly by a separate category of drugs, benzodiazepines, which have a larger margin of safety. With their dwindling popularity, barbiturates account for less than 10% of U.S. depressant prescriptions. Barbiturates are primarily prescribed as sleeping pills, followed by use for specific convulsive disorders. Short-acting barbiturates are indicated for some anesthetic reasons. For example, thiopental can minimize brain swelling and cerebral pressure while improving blood circulation during surgery.

Types

There are four different classifications for barbiturates. Depending on the length of time they act and their potency, they can be ultra short acting, short acting (4 hours or under), intermediate acting (4–6 hours), or long acting (longer than 6 hours). As their name suggests, short-acting barbiturates take less time to begin working than long-acting barbiturates. Additionally, the effects of short-acting barbiturates do not last for very long. Because short-acting barbiturates take effect quickly, their abuse potential is much higher than for slow-acting drugs. Although barbiturates are classified based upon their acting time, other factors can interfere with the effects. Dosage, body composition differences between users, and administration of the drug can all influence the length of time it takes barbiturates to begin working. As a controlled substance, use of barbiturates is illegal without a prescription. Depending on the barbiturate type, they may be classified as Schedule II, III, or IV on the federal classification of controlled substances and can be effective from 1 to 16 hours depending on the dosage.

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