Barbiturates Test Cost & Procedure

Barbiturates are depressants that are used to relax and make a person sleep. They are used to prevent seizures and Terminate episodes when they occur.  Typical uses of barbiturates:-Treating insomnia, Seizures, EpilepsyAnaesthesia treatment. They belong to a sedative- hypnotic class of medications.

Action of barbiturates

They act by stimulating the inhibitory neurotransmitter GABA. It shows  an inhibitory effect. Anxiety occurs due to overstimulation in the brain.

Barbiturates are classified as:-

• Ultra-short-acting. methohexital.
• Short-acting. Pentobarbital and secobarbital
• Long-acting. Phenobarbital

Commonly used for-

• Prevention of seizures.
• Treating insomnia.
• Used for Pre-anesthesia sedation - they help a person fall asleep quickly and pleasantly and anxiety reduction.
• To treat intracranial hypertension - high cerebrospinal fluid pressure inside the skull.

Some of the most common barbiturates include Amobarbital - which is used to treat insomnia.

• Butalbital - it is used in combination with other medications to treat tension headaches and migraines.
• Methohexital - it is used for anesthesia in the short term.
• Pentobarbital - it is used for pre-anesthesia. It can also terminate seizures.
• Phenobarbital- it is used for preventing seizures. It also helps in the termination of episodes.
• Primidone- It also prevents convulsions.
• Secobarbital - it is used to treat insomnia.

Common side effects:-

• Sedation Drowsiness
• Skin rash
• Headache
• Hypotension
• Nausea

Serious side effects of barbiturates include:

• Temporary breathing cessation
• Abnormally slow breathing
• Coma
• Hallucinations
• Fainting Confusion Rare side effects of barbiturates- Liver injury
• Erythroderma
• Megaloblastic anemia
• Agranulocytosis
• Stevens-Johnson syndrome

Barbiturates commercial names:

• Phenobarbital
• Butabarbital
• Seconal
• Nembutal
• Primidone

Symptoms of an overdose can include:

• Lack of coordination
• Slurring of speech
• Difficulty in thinking
• Poor judgment
• Coma
• Drowsiness
• Shallow breathing
• Kidney failure
• Death

Contraindications:-

The use of Barbiturates is contraindicated in:- variegate porphyria-induction of enzymes needed for porphyria synthesis by barbiturates

Status asthmaticus- respiratory depression caused by the barbiturates

Drug interactions with barbiturates are:

• Alcohol
• Opioids
• Alprazolam
• Anticoagulants
• Antihistamines
• Atazanavir
• Birth-control pills
• Boceprevir
• Clonazepam

Complications

• Heart and breathing disruptions.
• Addiction
• Barbiturates lower your heart rate and blood pressure.
• Barbiturates affect your liver, making it process certain other drugs too quickly.
• That makes other medications less effective when taken simultaneously.
• They may disrupt fetus development and can affect breastfeeding infants.
• Barbiturates should not be taken during pregnancy.