Barbiturates were first used in the earl 1900s for medical treatments. More than 2500 barbiturates have been utilized, and when they were most widely used, abut 50 of them were being marketed for use by people. Today only about 12 types of barbiturates remain on the market for medical use. They produce a large variance of central nervous system depression, ranging from mild sedation to coma. They have been used as sedatives, anesthetics, hypnotics, and even anticonvulsants. The main differenced between many of the types of barbiturates are the speed at which they affect a person and to what degree, as well as how long the effects last. In the medical field, barbiturates are classified as ultra short, short, intermediate, and long acting.
Ultra short barbiturates produce anesthesia within just one minute of being injected into a person's veins. Doctors, such as anesthesiologists, commonly use the Schedule IV drug methohexital (Brevital®), and Schedule III drugs such as thiamyl (Surital®). They also use thiopental (Pentothal®). People who abuse barbiturates prefer to use the Schedule II short-acting and intermediate-acting barbiturates that include amobarbital (Amyta®), pentobarbital (Nembutal®), secobarbital (Seconal®), and Tuinal. After administering barbiturates orally, they take 15-40 minutes to take effect, and the effects can last up to six hours. Barbiturates are mainly used to treat insomnia and as preoperative sedation.
Some long-acting barbiturates include phenobarbital (commonly known as Luminal®) and mephobarbital (commonly known as Mebaral®). Both of these drugs are in Schedule IV. These drugs take effect in only one hour and can last for about 12 hours. They are used mainly for daytime sedation and for treatment of seizure disorders.
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