Barbiturate intoxication and overdose

:: Definition :: Causes :: Symptoms :: Treatment :: Further Reading

Search results last updated: 5/6/2009

barbiturate intoxication and overdose - Definition: (Source: MedLinePlus)

Barbiturates are a type of depressant drug that causes relaxation and sleepiness. In relatively low doses, barbiturates and alcohol have very similar clinical syndromes of intoxication. However, excessive and prolonged dosages of barbiturate drugs, such as phenobarbital, may produce the following chronic symptoms: memory loss, irritability, changes in alertness, and decreased interpersonal functioning. Barbiturates may also cause an acute overdose syndrome, which is life-threatening. ...
[ read more.. ]

Causes of barbiturate intoxication and overdose (Source: MedLinePlus)

Barbiturate abuse is still a major addiction problem in the population, although it has been partly replaced by addiction to other depressant drugs more commonly prescribed, such as benzodiazepines. Though most people who take these medications for seizure disorders or pain syndromes do not abuse them, many abusers start by abusing medication prescribed for them or for other family members. ... [ read more.. ]

Symptoms of barbiturate intoxication and overdose (Source: MedLinePlus)

Symptoms of acute barbiturate intoxication include: Sluggishness; Incoordination; Difficulty in thinking; Slowness of speech; Faulty judgment; Drowsiness or coma; Shallow breathing; Staggering. ... [ read more.. ]

barbiturate intoxication and overdose - Conventional Treatments (Source: MedLinePlus)

Most overdoses of depressant medications are mixtures of drugs, commonly alcohol and barbiturates or benzodiazepines, or barbiturates and opiates (heroin or Oxycontin). Some users use a combination of all 4 drugs. Those who take such combinations tend to be either new users who don't know that such combinations are a recipe for coma or death, or experienced users who want to entirely blot out consciousness. This second group is among the most difficult to treat. Because mixtures are the most common cause of death, an opiate-blocking drug called naloxone (Narcan) is often used to treat overdose when an opiate was part of the mix. If opiates are involved, naloxone will often rapidly restore consciousness and breathing. There is no direct antidote to barbiturates or alcohol overdose. In such overdoses, respiration must be maintained by artificial means until the drugs are removed from the body. Some drugs may help speed the removal of barbiturates. ... [ read more.. ]

Further Reading on barbiturate intoxication and overdose

Barbiturate Abuse ( WebMD ) Barbiturates are a group of drugs in the class of drugs known as sedative-hypnotics, which generally describes their... Barbiturates are a group of drugs in the...is difficult to predict. Even a slight... Substance Abuse ( WebMD ) People abuse substances such as drugs, alcohol, and tobacco for varied and complicated reasons, but it is clear that our society pays a significant cost. Drug Dependence & Abuse ( WebMD ) Drug abuse and drug dependence represent different ends of the same disease process: Drug abuse is an intense desire to obtain...evaluation. A person with an acute drug overdose should be brought... Barbiturate Abuse ( eMedicineHealth )

	barbiturate intoxication and overdose: Health Search Results from the Invisible Web

barbiturate intoxication and overdose: Health Search Results from the Invisible Web