Barbiturates are frequently employed as euthanizing agents in small-animal veterinary medicine. However, barbiturates are still used as anticonvulsants (e.g., phenobarbital and primidone) and general anesthetics (e.g., sodium thiopental).īarbiturates in high doses are used for medical aid in dying, and in combination with a muscle relaxant for euthanasia and for capital punishment by lethal injection.

Today they have been largely replaced by benzodiazepines for these purposes because the latter are less toxic in drug overdose. Intermediate-acting barbiturates reduce time to fall asleep, increase total sleep time, and reduce REM sleep time. Uses Medicine īarbiturates, such as phenobarbital, were long used as anxiolytics and hypnotics. Despite this, barbiturates are still in use for various purposes: in general anesthesia, epilepsy, treatment of acute migraines or cluster headaches, acute tension headaches, euthanasia, capital punishment, and assisted suicide. They have been used recreationally for their anti-anxiety and sedative effects, and are thus controlled in most countries due to the risks associated with such use.īarbiturates have largely been replaced by benzodiazepines and nonbenzodiazepines ('Z-drugs') in routine medical practice, particularly in the treatment of anxiety disorders and insomnia, because of the significantly lower risk of overdose, and the lack of an antidote for barbiturate overdose. They are effective when used medically as anxiolytics, hypnotics, and anticonvulsants, but have physical and psychological addiction potential as well as overdose potential among other possible adverse effects.

Barbituric acid, the parent structure of all barbituratesīarbiturates are a class of depressant drugs that are chemically derived from barbituric acid.

Antidote for beta blocker overdose