Barbiturates

Drug name	Brand name	Street name	Recommended adult daily dose
Quinalbarbitone	Seconal Sodium	Seggie, seckies	100mg
Quinalbarbitone & Amylobarbitone	Tuinal	Chewies	100-200mg
Amylobarbitone	Amytal and Sodium Amytal		60-200mg
Butobarbitone	Soneryl		100-200mg
Phenobarbitone	Luminal		60-180mg
Methyl-phenobarbitone	Nembutal	Nembies	100-200mg

Street use
Swallowed and injected

Drug effects
Depressants (downers). At low doses, motor activity decreases and there is sedation and drowsiness. Paradoxically, barbiturates may produce elation, excitement and euphoria. Other effects may include general weakness, disinhibition, slurred speech, staggering, confusion, slow heart rate. At high doses, cognitive ability is further decreased, motor activity is suppressed, judgement is distorted and hypnosis occurs. Anaesthesia results from higher doses.

Dependency
Tolerance and dependence develop very rapidly as the level of drug use increases. There is also cross tolerance to other depressants such as alcohol.

Withdrawal
Withdrawal symptoms appear within 24 hours of the last dose, peak about the second day and then fade over the next week to 10 days. Symptoms include restlessness, anxiety, increased heart rate, tremor and insomnia. Heavy users may experience delirium and seizure, particularly likely following sudden withdrawal, so doses should be reduced gradually over time.

Long term use
Can lead to: chronic inebriation, aggressive behaviour, insomnia, impaired memory, judgement and co-ordination.

Overdose risk
Although tolerance to barbiturates develops rapidly the gap between a safe (for a heavy user) and lethal dose is very narrow, so accidental overdoses are very common. Large doses can lead to respiratory failure, coma and eventual death. Heavy users are also at risk from hypothermia because, while sedated, there is poor heat retention. Deaths due to hypothermia are not uncommon. Risks are always increased when used in conjunction with alcohol.

Risk in pregnancy
Barbiturates can cause severe congenital malformations. However, it is important that the drugs are not stopped immediately because of the risk of seizure. The withdrawal period need not be extended because of the pregnancy and detoxification over 8 days is common.

Legal status
Prescription Only Medicines
Class B, Schedule 3 (Quinalbarbitone is Schedule 2)
Class A if prepared for injection
Illegal to possess without a prescription and to supply to others

Maximum penalty
Class A: Possession - 7 years, Supplying - Life
Class B: Possession - 5 years, Supplying - 14 years