Barbiturates BAR

Screening Cut-off: 300 ng/ml
DEA Drug Class: Depressant
Type: Prescription Drug
Trade Names: Alurate, Amytal, Barbita, Busodium, Butalan, Butisol, Luminal, Mebaral, Nembutal, Novopentobarb, Novosecobarb, Sarisol, Seconal, Solfoton, Tuinal
Street Names: Barbs, Bute, Goofballs, Nembies, Reds, Stoppers, Yellow Jackets, Barbies, Barbs, Block Busters, Blue Bullets, Blues, Downers, Pink Ladies, Pinks, Sleepers

Drug Information

Barbiturates (BAR) are central nervous system depressants.  They are used therapeutically as sedatives, hypnotics, and anticonvulsants.  Barbiturates are almost always taken orally as capsules or tablets.  The effects resemble those of intoxication with alcohol.  Chronic use of barbiturates leads to tolerance and physical dependence. Short acting Barbiturates taken at 400 mg/day for 2-3 months can produce a clinically significant degree of physical dependence. Withdrawal symptoms experienced during periods of drug abstinence can be severe enough to cause death. Only a small amount (less than 5%) of most Barbiturates are excreted unaltered in the urine.

Drug Enforcement Agency (DEA) Drug Classification and Effects Information

• Classification/Schedule III: Drugs with less abuse potential than schedule II; have moderate to low physical dependency, but may have high psychological dependence
• Physical Dependency: Moderate
• Psychological Dependency: Moderate
• Tolerance: Yes
• Possible Effects: Slurred speech, disorientation, drunken behavior without odor of alcohol, impaired memory of events, interacts with alcohol
• Effects of Overdose: Shallow respiration, clammy skin, dilated pupils, weak and rapid pulse, coma, possible death
• Withdrawal Syndrome: Anxiety, insomnia, tremors, delirium, convulsions, possible death

Resources

• Drug Information Chart

• Barbiturates Wikipedia Information
• DEA Barbiturates Information
• DEA Chart Drugs of Abuse, Uses and Effects
• DEA Drug Classes
• DEA Drugs and Chemicals of Concern
• Drug Free America Report: Depressants
• Drug Free America Report: Prescriptions Sedatives Tranquilizers
• General Drug Information on Drugs.com
• Getting High on Prescription Drugs PDF
• NIDA – Barbiturates – Prescription Drug Abuse Report
• NIDA – Barbiturates, Prescription and Over-the-Counter Medications Information
• NIDA – Barbiturates, Prescription Medication Information
• NIDA Commonly Abused Drugs
• NIDA Prescription Drug Abuse Chart
• NIDA Prescription Drug Abuse Information PDF
• NLM/NIH: Prescription Drug Abuse Information
• Street Drug Information: Barbiturates
• White House Information on: Prescription Drugs