Secobarbital abuse

Barbiturates. The hrst barbiturate, barbital, was introduced in 1903 and was followed a few years later by phenobarbital. The barbiturates effectively relieve anxiety, but they are never used as anxiolytics today due to toxicity and abuse concerns. However, several barbiturates, including phenobarbital (Luminal), secobarbital (Seconal), and pentobarbital (Nembutal), remain available and are occasionally used to treat epilepsy and rarely to manage acute alcohol withdrawal. 

The CNS depressants include barbiturates, nonbarbiturate sedatives, and the benzodiazepines. As the medical use of barbiturates decreased, primarily because of their high addiction liability and the danger of acute lethality, the use of the benzodiazepine anxiolytics increased. The most commonly abused barbiturates are secobarbital, pentobarbital, and amobarbital. Pheno-barbital is not generally abused, because of its slow onset of action. The most commonly abused anxiolytics include diazepam, chlordiazepoxide, midazolam, lo-razepam, and flurazepam. These drugs are readily attainable from illicit sources. 

Compared to the benzodiazepine sedative-hypnotics, secobarbital is more lethal in overdosage, has a higher tendency for abuse and addiction, and is more likely to cause drug interactions via induction of hepatic microsomal enzymes few advan-fages if any in safety or efficacy over benzodiazepines... 

Schedule III Substances with less potential for abuse than drugs in Schedule I or II for example, methyl-phenidate, amphetamine, secobarbital, and anabolic steroids. 

Aprobarbital is an elixir, mephobarbital is a tablet, and the drug containing secobarbital and amobarbital is a capsule. Legally prescribed barbiturates and those used in medical procedures are used in the form that the drug is produced. Some drug abusers will inject powder from capsules or ground-up tablets. 

Schedule II drags have a high potential for abuse. They are accepted for medical use with restrictions. These drugs may lead to severe psychological or physical dependence. Barbiturates in this category are amo-barbital (Amytal), pentobarbital (Nembutal), and secobarbital (Seconal, Tuinal). 

Long-acting barbiturates include phenobarbital (Luminal) and mephobarbital (Mebaral). These drugs, which take effect in about one hour and last for about 12 hours, are used primarily for daytime sedation and the treatment of seizure disorders or mild anxiety. Generally, these are not drugs of abuse rather the short- and intermediate-acting barbiturates—such as amobarbital (Amytal), pentobarbital (Nembutal), and secobarbital (Seconal)—are among those most commonly abused. 

Scopolamine methylnitrate, 675 Scopolia, 674 Scopos, 674 SCOT columns, 182 Screening, for diuretics, 32 for drugs of abuse, 27 for laxatives, 32 for solvent abuse, 31 tests on blood, 6 tests on stomach contents, 5 tests on urine, 4 Scuroforme, 419 S-Diazine, 982 S-Dimidine, 984 SDMO, 991 SE-30, 180 Sea-legs, 724 Sebizon, 981 Secadrex, 309, 663 Secbutobarbital, 967 Secbutobarbitone, 967 Secbutobarbitone sodium, 968 Seclodin, 677 Secobarbital, 951 Secobarbital sodium, 951... 

Several classes of pharmacologic agents are available for insomnia. Barbiturates are the oldest agents that have been used for insomnia and include pentobarbital, secobarbital, and amobarbital. Barbiturates are currently not recommended because of their high abuse potential (due to rapid development of tolerance) and lethal potential in overdose situations. Barbiturates potentiate the GABAergic-induced increase in chloride ion conductance at low doses, and at high doses they depress calcium-dependent action potentials. Caution should be exercised in patients with marked renal or liver dysfunction, severe respiratory disease, suicidal tendencies, or history of alcohol/drug abuse. 

The barbiturates have a low therapeutic index and a relatively high abuse potential. Because of their rapid onset and short duration of action, the short- to intermediate-acting barbiturates are used as sedative-hypnotics (amobarbitai, butabarbital, butalbital, pentobarbital, and secobarbital) and are those most commonly abused. The longer acting barbiturates (mephobarbital and phenobarbital), used primarily for their anticonvulsant properties, are rarely abused. 

Prescription regulations for most CNS drugs are based on their abuse liability. The potent opioid analgesics (e.g., morphine, methadone, meperidine, fentanyl) are judged to have the highest potential for abuse, along with CNS stimulants (e.g., amphetamine, cocaine) and short-acting barbiturate (e g., secobarbital). No refills or telephone prescriptions are permissible. 

Schedule 11 drugs have an accepted medical use in the United States and a high rate of abuse, with either severe psychological or physical dependence potential. These drugs include morphine, codeine, cocaine, amphetamine, and most barbiturate preparations containing amobarbital, secobarbital, and pentobarbital. 

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