Barbiturates

Lindsey Doran

Chemical /Brand Names•Pentobarbital (Nembutal)

•Secobarbital (Seconal)

•Amobarbital (Amytal)

• Phenobarbital (Luminal)

Street Names• Barbs • Block Busters• Christmas Trees• Goof Balls• Pinks• Red Devils• Reds & Blues• Yellow Jackets

•Blue Heavens•Amy’s•Rainbows•Bluebirds•Downers•Blues•Tootsies

Actions

•Inhibits CNS•Reduce anxiety• Reduce respiration• Reduce blood pressure •Reduce heart rate •Reduce rapid eye movement•Induce sleep

HistoryBarbital (barbitone) was synthesized and

introduced, in 1903 under the brand name Veronal, as a sedative. Barbiturates were an effective sedative for the terminally nervous.

First introduced for medical use in the early 1900s. More than 2,500 were synthesized but only about 50 were marketed for human use.

Founded by Adolph von Bayer….The name comes from the day of discovery which

was the feast day of Saint Barbara, so he named his discovery Barbara's urates in her honor

Medical Use•Humans: insomnia, preoperation sedation, seizure disorder

•Animals:anesthesia euthanasia

•Low dose takes between 15-40 minutes to work

•High doses take about an hour but last for 12 hours.

Schedule RatingBarbituartes are classified under II, III, and IV.Schedule II short-acting (preferred by abusers)

amobarbital (Amyta®), pentobarbital (Nembutal®), secobarbital (Seconal®), and Tuinal (an amobarbital/secobarbital combination product).

Schedule III drugs thiamyl (Surital®) and thiopental (Pentothal®) butalbital (Fiorina®), butabarbital (Butisol®), talbutal (Lotusate®), and aprobarbital (Alurate®).

Schedule IV drug methohexital (Brevital®)

Physiological Effects

. •Slurred speech •Shallow breathing •Sluggishness •Fatigue• Disorientation• Lack of coordination• Dilated pupils•Sleepiness

Psychological Effects

Paranoid Suicidal thoughtsEuphoriaRelief of anxietySedationDecreased attention span

Side Effects•Similar to alcohol intoxication:

•Disinhibition•“Truth serem”•Impaired thinking •Impaired memory and judgment •Death from depression of respiratory• Impaired coordination• Increased irritability• Decreased blood pressure and heart rate •Fainting •Nausea and vomiting •Slurred speech

A Killer Dose..Autopsy’s show that many people have

died in connection with overdose of barbiturates. Many sources show there is suspicion of Barbiturates playing a role in the deaths of Icons both Jimi Hendrix and

Marilyn Monroe.

WithdrawalIncrease anxietyIncrease blood pressureIncrease heart rateTremorsIncrease pulseSweatingSeizures

Bibliographyhttp://www.gdcada.org/statistics/barbiturates.htm http://espn.go.com/special/s/drugsandsports/barbs.html http://www.streetdrugs.org/barbiturates.htm http://faculty.washington.edu/chudler/barb.html http://www.a1b2c3.com/drugs/barb01.htm http://www.recreationaldrugs.org/Barbiturates/