A barbiturate is a sedative-hypnotic drug derived from barbituric acid. They act by lowering your respiratory rate, blood pressure, temperature and central nervous system activity. Therefore, barbiturates have the effect of relaxation and sleepiness.
Today, barbiturate drugs are primarily used before surgery for their relaxation effect and to control seizures. Previously, they were used to treat nervousness and sleep issues. But because of barbiturate’s hypnotic addiction potential, they’ve been replaced with other sedative drugs.
Barbiturates relaxation and sleepiness is very similar to alcohol intoxication. Thus, taking these two together can cause an overdose consequence.
Barbiturate overdose may cause some of these toxicity symptoms:
- apnea
- ataxia
- vertigo
- lethargy
- hypoxia
- delirium
- paranoia
- irritability
- drowsiness
- tachycardia
- bradycardia
- hypotension
- hypothermia
- hyperhidrosis
- slurred speech
- hypoventilation
- combativeness
Fatality caused by a barbiturate overdose is rare, but complications are not. Some of the obstacles during recovery post barbiturate overdose are:
Barbiturates can also damage your fetus is you are pregnant.
Most barbiturate overdose deaths are caused by a mixture of drugs, commonly with alcohol or opiates. When an overdose includes an opiate as part of the mix, an opiate-blocking drug is used to help treat it.
Otherwise, nothing directly treats a barbiturate overdose. Although, artificial respiration will likely be needed until drug wears off. And if you’re addicted to barbiturates, this hypnotic sedative must be withdrawn gradually.
