Barbiturates

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You are here : 3-RX.com > Drugs & Medications > Detailed Drug Information (USP DI) > Barbiturates

Barbiturates (Systemic)

Description

Barbiturates (bar-BI-tyoo-rates)belong to the group of medicines called central nervous system (CNS) depressants (medicines that cause drowsiness). They act on the brain and CNS to produce effects that may be helpful or harmful. This depends on the individual patient's condition and response and the amount of medicine taken.

Some of the barbiturates may be used before surgery to relieve anxiety or tension. In addition, some of the barbiturates are used as anticonvulsants to help control seizures in certain disorders or diseases, such as epilepsy. Barbiturates may also be used for other conditions as determined by your doctor.

The barbiturates have been used to treat insomnia (trouble in sleeping); but if they are used regularly (for example, every day) for insomnia, they are usually not effective for longer than 2 weeks. The barbiturates have also been used to relieve nervousness or restlessness during the daytime. However, the barbiturates have generally been replaced by safer medicines for the treatment of insomnia and daytime nervousness or tension.

If too much of a barbiturate is used, it may become habit-forming.

Barbiturates should not be used for anxiety or tension caused by the stress of everyday life.

These medicines are available only with your doctor's prescription, in the following dosage forms:

Oral

Amobarbital
- Capsules (U.S. and Canada)
- Tablets (U.S. and Canada)
Aprobarbital
- Elixir (U.S.)
Butabarbital
- Capsules (U.S.)
- Elixir (U.S.)
- Tablets (U.S. and Canada)
Mephobarbital
- Tablets (U.S. and Canada)
Metharbital
- Tablets (Other countries)
Pentobarbital
- Capsules (U.S. and Canada)
- Elixir (U.S.)
Phenobarbital
- Capsules (U.S.)
- Elixir (U.S. and Canada)
- Tablets (U.S. and Canada)
Secobarbital
- Capsules (U.S. and Canada)
Secobarbital and Amobarbital
- Capsules (U.S. and Canada)

Parenteral

Amobarbital
- Injection (U.S. and Canada)
Pentobarbital
- Injection (U.S. and Canada)
Phenobarbital
- Injection (U.S. and Canada)
Secobarbital
- Injection (U.S.)

Rectal

Pentobarbital
- Suppositories (U.S. and Canada)

Brand Names

Some commonly used brand names are:

In the U.S. -

Alurate ²
Amytal ¹
Barbita ⁷
Busodium ³
Butalan ³
Butisol ³
Luminal ⁷
Mebaral ⁴
Nembutal ⁶
Sarisol No. 2 ³
Seconal ⁸
Solfoton ⁷
Tuinal ⁹

In Canada -

Amytal ¹
Ancalixir ⁷
Butisol ³
Mebaral ⁴
Nembutal ⁶
Nova Rectal ⁶
Novopentobarb ⁶
Novosecobarb ⁸
Seconal ⁸
Tuinal ⁹

Gemonil ⁵

Note:

For quick reference, the following barbiturates are numbered to match the corresponding brand names.

This information applies to the following medicines:
1.	Amobarbital (am-oh-BAR-bi-tal)‡
2.	Aprobarbital (a-proe-BAR-bi-tal)†
3.	Butabarbital (byoo-ta-BAR-bi-tal)‡
4.	Mephobarbital (me-foe-BAR-bi-tal)
5.	Metharbital (meth-AR-bi-tal)*†
6.	Pentobarbital (pen-toe-BAR-bi-tal)‡
7.	Phenobarbital (fee-noe-BAR-bi-tal)‡§
8.	Secobarbital (see-koe-BAR-bi-tal)‡
9.	Secobarbital and Amobarbital (see-koe-BAR-bi-tal and am-oh-BAR-bi-tal)
* Not commercially available in the U.S.
† Not commercially available in Canada
‡ Generic name product may be available in the U.S.
§ Generic name product may be available in Canada

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		Barbiturates: Before Using

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Barbiturates (Systemic)

Category

Description

Brand Names