BARBITURATE ADDICTION: EFFECTS, WITHDRAWAL, DETOX, AND TREATMENT

Why Do People Use Barbiturates?

Barbiturates – chiefly phenobarbital – are sometimes prescribed by physicians to treat:

• Epilepsy (seizure disorder)
• Convulsions
• Severe trauma to skull
• Increased pressure in skull

Barbiturates are also occasionally used as an anesthetic.

Off-label uses for barbiturates include:

• Alcohol poisoning and withdrawal
• Benzo poisoning and withdrawal
• Trauma
• Jaundice
• Migraines

While barbiturates were once prescribed to treat insomnia, this class of medication is now rarely used to treat sleep disorders.

Overall, the risk of adverse effects and poor outcomes means that barbiturates are now seldom prescribed in the United States.

Today, the barbiturate phenobarbital is commonly used to treat seizures.

History Of Barbiturates

Barbiturates were used in the 60s and 70s for anxiety, insomnia, and seizures. Today, they are used for sedation before procedures. They are less frequently prescribed because of their highly addictive properties. Barbiturates were created in 1903 by altering a chemical compound found in apples. In 1912, amphetamines were added to the drug so users wouldn’t oversleep when using barbiturates.

Today, benzos are used instead of barbiturates to treat anxiety and sleep disorders. Barbiturates aren’t used as much anymore because there are safer, less addictive drugs available that don’t require a higher dose each time. They aren’t only abused to get “high.” Some barbiturates have been used as date rape drugs for their sedative effects.

Barbiturate Addiction

The sustained use of barbiturates can cause tolerance to build. When this occurs, the effects of the medication diminish, prompting many people to increase the dose or the frequency of doses to achieve the initial effects. This can heighten the risk of overdose, potentially life-threatening in the case of barbiturates.

Additionally, tolerance and increased consumption of barbiturates will accelerate the development of physical dependence. If you become dependent on barbiturates, you will experience aggravating withdrawal symptoms if you moderate or discontinue use.

Ongoing barbiturate abuse can lead to addiction (sedative, hypnotic, and anxiolytic use disorder). Addiction to barbiturates is characterized by the compulsive use of the medication in the face of obviously negative outcomes.

Barbiturate addiction may develop as a result of sustained use of this class of medication for legitimate medical purposes. Beyond this, barbiturates are frequently abused. This drug delivers psychoactive effects similar to the effects of alcohol. Those abusing barbiturates feel relaxed, happy, less inhibited, and more talkative.

Abusing barbiturates, whether by swallowing, snorting, or injecting the substance, is dangerous and can trigger severe short-term and long-term complications, both physical and psychological, dependence. Barbiturate addiction and overdose can both be life-threatening.

Are Barbiturates Addictive?

Barbiturates have a high abuse potential. The sustained use of this CNS depressant can lead to the development of tolerance and dependence.

Many people taking barbiturates long-term – whether for medical use or for recreational use – become frustrated when tolerance forms. By taking higher doses of barbiturates or increasing the frequency of doses, this initiates abusive patterns of consumption. Increased consumption may accelerate the formation of physical dependence. Dependence is characterized by the presentation of severe withdrawal symptoms from 8 to 15 hours after discontinuing use.

Physical dependence on barbiturates often but not always leads to addiction. Barbiturate addiction is associated with pronounced psychological problems. Those who struggle with addiction to this class of medication often experience:

• Irritability
• Depression
• Anxiety

Barbiturate addiction is also liable to cause problems at home, at work, and in personal relationships. While addiction (substance use disorder) is a chronic and incurable condition, most addictions, including barbiturate addiction, respond well to evidence-based treatment. IF you find yourself asking the question “are barbiturates addictive?” it may be a strong sign that you are already dealing with a problem. Reach out to our team today for help.

Is Xanax a Barbiturate?

No, Xanax is not a barbiturate. It is a benzodiazepine, a different class of central nervous system depressant. While both medications have similar effects that include sedation and anxiety relief, they work differently in the brain and have different side effects, potencies, and risks. Learn more about the differences between barbiturates vs benzodiazepines on Gratitude Lodge’s blog site today.

Is Ambien a Barbiturate?

No, Ambien (zolpidem) is not a barbiturate. It is a sedative-hypnotic medication from a class of drugs called imidazopyridines. Ambien is used to treat insomnia, and works by increasing the activity of a neurotransmitter called GABA, slowing brain activity and promoting sleep. Barbiturates, on the other hand, are a class of drugs that were once widely used for their sedative, hypnotic, and anticonvulsant effects, but have largely been replaced by safer and more effective medications.

Barbiturate Dependence

Barbiturate dependence often develops with the sustained use of this CNS depressant. This can prompt the need for increased doses of barbiturates to deliver the desired therapeutic or pharmacological effect.

The GABAA receptor – one of the primary sites of action for barbiturates – is believed to play a crucial role in the formation of tolerance and dependence on this class of medication.

The management of physical dependence on barbiturates involves stabilization using phenobarbital (a long-acting barbiturate), followed by a gradual tapering of dosage. This will reduce the intensity of withdrawal symptoms and mitigate the likelihood of seizures during detox.

Abruptly discontinuing the use of barbiturates without medical supervision is inadvisable and could be life-threatening.

What Are The Effects And Symptoms Of Barbiturate Addiction?

Addiction is a chronic and relapsing brain condition clinically described as substance use disorder. Barbiturate addiction is one of ten substance use disorders recognized by DSM-5-TR and is known as sedative, hypnotic, or anxiolytic use disorder.

The diagnostic criteria for barbiturate addiction include some of these common barbiturate side effects:

• Frequent use of barbiturates resulting in significant functional impairment or distress in life.
• Intense cravings to use barbiturates.
• Reduced interest in important activities due to the use of barbiturates.
• Inability to moderate or discontinue use of barbiturates.
• Neglecting personal and professional commitments.
• Tolerance to barbiturates.
• Presentation of withdrawal symptoms after cutting down or discontinuing use of barbiturates.

Beyond those diagnostic criteria, there are many potential signs of barbiturate abuse. These include:

• Physical signs – appearing intoxicated, impaired balance, loss of coordination.
• Empty prescription bottles.
• Cognitive signs – confusion, lethargy, slowed thinking, severe sleepiness, memory loss.
• Psychological signs – anxiety, social isolation, disruptive behavior, irritability, apathy, depression.

Barbiturate Addiction Statistics

According to this National Survey on Drug Use and Health:

• 923,000 U.S. adults reported past year use of sedatives like barbiturates.
• 227,000 over-18s reported using sedatives in the past month.
• Among these, 854,000 met the criteria for sedative addiction in 2021.
• Overdose deaths associated with barbiturates have increased since the 2000s, increasing 6-fold between 2002 and 2013.
• Barbiturate addiction often co-occurs with the abuse of other substances and mental health conditions.

Barbiturate Addiction Treatment

The safest and most effective approach to barbiturate addiction treatment begins with a supervised medical detox. The sustained use of this class of medication causes the brain, body, and central nervous system to become dependent on barbiturates. Abruptly discontinuing use will cause severe withdrawal symptoms to manifest. Seizures associated with barbiturate withdrawal can be life-threatening.

During a clinical detox, medical professionals can administer medications to streamline withdrawal and monitor for any complications during barbiturate withdrawal.

Detox is not a substitute for treatment, but rather the first in an ongoing chain of events that comprises addiction recovery. After detox you can transition into an inpatient or outpatient program. Both types of program offer access to the same therapies, but with outpatient treatment you will return home between therapy sessions.

The most common treatment used for barbiturate addiction include:

• CBT (cognitive-behavioral therapy)
• MI (motivational interviewing)
• Individual counseling
• Group therapy

Detox helps you to conquer the physical issue of dependence, while ongoing treatment with behavioral therapies allows you to unpack the psychological component of barbiturate addiction.

Barbiturate Detox

Everyone will have a different experience of barbiturate withdrawal. The variables that influence detox and withdrawal from CNS depressants include:

• Age
• Metabolism
• Frequency of barbiturate use
• Last dose of barbiturates
• Duration of barbiturate use
• Half-life of type of barbiturate used
• Route of administration
• Additional substances used
• Substance use history
• Family history of addiction
• Tolerance
• Diet
• Support system

In most cases, barbiturate withdrawal lasts for one to two weeks. Those who have been chronically abusing the medication may experience more protracted withdrawal lasting for up to one month.

A typical barbiturate withdrawal timeline looks like this:

• Days 1 to 3: Withdrawal symptoms of nausea, vomiting, and anxiety will present. Sleep patterns will be disrupted.
• Days 4 to 7: On the fifth day of detox, symptoms will start subsiding. Cravings will persist, alongside insomnia, mood swings, and anxiety.
• Day 7 and beyond: Cravings for barbiturates may persist.

Barbiturate detox is always best managed in a clinical setting.

Barbiturate Withdrawal Symptoms

One major danger of barbiturates is the withdrawal problems and symptoms that can occur when someone who uses the drugs suddenly stop. Some of the most common barbiturate withdrawal symptoms include:

• Fever
• Nausea
• Vomiting
• Anxiety
• Insomnia
• Exhaustion
• Aggression
• Restlessness
• During a supervised medical detox, a treatment team will monitor for the following potentially severe barbiturate withdrawal symptoms:
• Circulatory failure
• Tremors
• Seizure
• Hallucinations
• DTs (delirium tremens)
• Death

Gratitude Lodge’s Barbiturate Addiction Treatment Program

If you require help addressing an addiction to barbiturates, we can help you at Gratitude Lodge in Southern California.

As outlined, a supervised medical detox provides the smoothest pathway to ongoing treatment for sedative use disorder. We can help you achieve this at our licensed medical detox centers located in San Diego, Newport Beach, and Long Beach. With emotional and clinical care available around the clock, you can move beyond dependence on barbiturates, transitioning directly into an ongoing treatment program following detox.

Choose from the following treatment programs for barbiturate addiction:

• 30-day inpatient rehab
• IOP (intensive outpatient program)
• Dual diagnosis treatment program

All addiction treatment programs at Gratitude Lodge provide personalized care that draws from an array of science-backed therapies and holistic treatments. These may include:

• Psychotherapy
• Group therapy
• Motivational therapy
• Family therapy
• Holistic treatments

You will leave Gratitude Lodge equipped with a complete aftercare plan to strengthen your chances of sustained sobriety. This will include relapse prevention strategies, relapse management, coping techniques, and ongoing outpatient treatment if required. Many people step down to a less intensive form of treatment before transitioning back into everyday living.

When you are ready to move from barbiturate abuse and addiction into ongoing recovery, build the firmest foundation at Gratitude Lodge. Call 844-576-0144 today for help right away.

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