Barbiturates
URINE DRUG TEST INFORMATION SHEET BARBITURATES Classification: Central nervous system depressants insomnia, anxiety or tension due to their very high (CNS Depressants) risk of physical dependence and fatal overdose. Due to the structural nature of barbiturates, the duration Background: Barbiturates are a group of drugs of action does not always correlate well with the that act as central nervous system depressants. biological half-life. Opiates, benzodiazepines and alcohol are also CNS depressants, and like their use, the effect seems to Physiological Effects: Lowered blood pressure, the user as an overall sense of calm. Barbiturates respiratory depression, fatigue, fever, impaired were introduced in 1903, dominating the sedative- coordination, nystagmus, slurred speech and ataxia hypnotic market for the first half of the twentieth century. Unfortunately, because barbiturates have Psychological Effects: Drowsiness, dizziness, unusual a relatively low therapeutic-to-toxic index and excitement, irritability, poor concentration, sedation, substantial potential for abuse, they quickly became confusion, impaired judgment, addiction, euphoria, a major health problem. Barbiturates are commonly decreased anxiety and a loss of inhibition abused for their sedative properties and widespread Toxicity: Barbiturates are especially more availability. The introduction of benzodiazepines in dangerous when abused with alcohol, opiates and the 1960s quickly supplanted the barbiturates due benzodiazepines because they act on the same to their higher safety
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