Drug Index

Barbiturates

Also known as: Seconal (Secobarbital): reds, red birds, red devils, Nembutal (Phenobarbital): yellow jackets, Amytal (Amobarbital): blue heavens, Tuinal (Amobarbital-secobarbital): Christmas trees, rainbows

Medical Uses

Barbiturates, also called "downers," were developed to treat sleeplessness, anxiety, tension, high blood pressure, and convulsions. Some are used as anaesthetics.

Short Term Effects

Activity of central nervous system slows down. Small doses relieve tension; large doses produce staggering, blurred vision, impaired thinking, reduced sensitivity to pain, and slurred speech, reflexes and breathing. Overdoses cause unconsciousness, coma and death. Many of the deaths due to drugs (excluding alcohol) in Canada are caused by barbiturates and barbiturate-like drugs. Accidental overdoses occur when children swallow pills or when adults with increased tolerance are unsure of how many to take. Use with alcohol can be very dangerous.

Long Term Effects

Anaemia, impairment of liver function, chronic intoxication (headache, impaired vision, slurred speech), and depression. Babies of chronic users may have difficulty in breathing and feeding, experience disturbed sleep patterns, sweating, irritability and fever.

Tolerance and Dependance

Regular use induces tolerance, making increased doses necessary to produce the desired effect. Since less tolerance develops to harmful effects than to desirable effects, the margin between effective doses and lethal doses gradually narrows. Psychological dependence can occur with regular use, as can physical dependence. Withdrawal symptoms include restlessness, anxiety, insomnia, delirium, convulsions and even death.

Legal Status

In Canada, barbiturates and their salts and derivatives are governed by the provisions of the Controlled Drugs and Substances Act applicable to Schedule IV. Trafficking, possession for the purpose of trafficking, possession for the purpose of exporting, production, import and export offences are punishable on summary conviction by imprisonment for up to one year or on indictment by imprisonment for up to three years.

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