Barbiturates aren’t as common as they were a few decades ago – but hundreds of thousands of Americans use these drugs every year. The misuse of these powerful substances can be incredibly dangerous, with potential outcomes including addiction, barbiturate overdose, and death.
What are Barbiturates?
Barbiturates are a category of drugs that are also sometimes referred to as depressants or sedative-hypnotics. Examples of barbiturates that have been approved by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration include:
- Amobarbital (which is also sold under the brand name Amytal Sodium)
- Butalbital (Floricet)
- Pentobarbital (Nembutal)
- Phenobarbital (Luminal Sodium)
- Primidone (Mysoline)
Barbiturates can be used to treat a variety of medical conditions, including insomnia, seizure disorders, and anxiety – though doctors prescribe barbiturates much less frequently now than they did in the past (particularly in the 1960s and 1970s).
Today, medical professionals are more likely to prescribe benzodiazepines instead of barbiturates. Though benzos present a risk of abuse and addiction, they are still considered to be safer than barbiturates.
Can You Overdose on a Barbiturate?
Yes, you can overdose on a barbiturate.
When a person takes a barbiturate, the drug slows neural functioning throughout the central nervous system. This has a calming, relaxing effect on the mind and body.
Barbiturates can ease muscle tension, eradicate anxiety, and elicit a sense of serene euphoria. While these effects can be quite beneficial to people who have been experiencing certain physical and mental health symptoms, they are also attractive to individuals who are seeking a recreational high.
Misusing these substances for any purpose – including attempts to self-medicate as well as recreational abuse – can increase your risk for barbiturate overdose.
Barbiturate Overdose Symptoms
Medical professionals sometimes refer to barbiturate overdose as barbiturate toxicity. Regardless of what term is used, the experience can be extremely harmful and potentially fatal.
The following are possible signs of barbiturate overdose:
- Dilated or pinpoint pupils
- Confusion and disorientation
- Vertigo (dizziness or lightheadedness)
- Nausea
- Extreme lethargy
- Slowed heart rate
- Faint pulse
- Low body temperature
- Difficulty breathing
- Loss of consciousness
- Bluish coloration near lips and fingertips
- Coma
Anyone who exhibits these signs after taking barbiturates is in crisis and needs immediate medical care. If you are with someone who begins to exhibit the signs of barbiturate overdose, call 911 at once. Timely intervention by qualified professionals can make a literal life-or-death difference.
Other Potential Dangers of Barbiturates
Overdose is not the only potential danger of barbiturate use. Barbiturates also pose a high risk of addiction. Compulsive barbiturate use can, in turn, expose a person to myriad other forms of harm, such as:
- Cognitive difficulties, including memory problems
- Damage to the liver and/or kidneys
- Physical injuries due to impaired behaviors
- Polysubstance abuse (using barbiturates in combination with alcohol or other drugs)
- Substandard performance in school or at work
- Inability to find and keep a job
- Being arrested, fined, and/or jailed
- Financial devastation
Also, barbiturate abuse by someone who is pregnant or nursing can have a catastrophic impact on their child. Prenatal exposure to barbiturates has been linked with developmental delays, learning deficits, social maladjustment, and lowered IQ.
Barbiturate Withdrawal Symptoms
The longer a person engages in barbiturate abuse, the greater their risk becomes for severe and potentially irreversible harm. But for some people, ending their use of barbiturates can be extraordinarily difficult.
Once a person has become addicted to a barbiturate, their body will adapt to the presence of the substance. If this person then tries to abruptly end their barbiturate use, their body will usually respond with a variety of upsetting physical and psychological symptoms.
The distress of withdrawal – and the knowledge that this torment can be relieved by abusing barbiturates again – can keep people trapped in this self-defeating behavior.
The following are examples of common barbiturate withdrawal symptoms:
- Anxiety
- Restlessness
- Abdominal cramping
- Nausea and vomiting
- Tics and tremors
- Delirium
- Hallucinations
- Convulsions and seizures
Depending on factors such as the length of time that a person has been addicted to barbiturates and how much of the drug they have been using, the danger of withdrawal isn’t limited to discomfort. In some cases, barbiturate withdrawal can actually be fatal.
This underscores the importance of completing barbiturate withdrawal in a reputable detoxification program. When a person is in detox, they will be under the care of a team of experienced professionals who can provide both medical and therapeutic support.
Detox can keep a person safe, improve their ability to successfully complete withdrawal, and prepare them for the next step in their recovery journey. During the post-detox phases of treatment, people can develop skills for managing triggers, resolving conflicts, dealing with stress in a healthier manner, and addressing other challenges without resorting to substance abuse.
Contact Our Addiction Treatment Center About Barbiturate Addiction
Los Angeles Detox is a trusted source of life-affirming care for adults whose lives have been disrupted by the compulsive abuse of barbiturates and other harmful substances.
Our barbiturate addiction treatment center in Los Angeles, California, is a safe and welcoming place where you can receive personalized services and comprehensive support. Additionally, our addiction experts can assess the full scope of your needs, then develop a customized plan to help you achieve a much healthier and more hopeful future. With our help, you can discover the boundless promise of life in recovery.
To learn more or to schedule a free assessment, please visit our Contact page or call our us today.
