barbiturates
Sign in to savethumb|class=skin-invert-image|Barbituric acid, the [[parent structure of all barbiturates]]
AI overview
Barbiturates are a class of drugs derived from barbituric acid that work by depressing the central nervous system, and they have been used medically for purposes such as sedation and anesthesia. They matter because they were once widely prescribed but are now used cautiously due to risks of addiction, overdose, and death, making their history and regulation an important part of modern medicine.
AI-generated from the Wikipedia summary — may contain errors.
Article
25 sectionsContents
- Uses
- Medicine
- Interrogation
- Chemistry
- Classification
- Indications
- Side effects
- Common side effects
- Serious side effects
- Rare side effects
- Tolerance and dependence
- Overdose
- Contraindications
- Mechanism of action
- Interactions
- Caution
- History
- Society and culture
- Legal status
- Recreational use
- Examples
- See also
- Explanatory notes
- References
- External links and further reading
thumb|class=skin-invert-image|Barbituric acid, the [[parent structure of all barbiturates]]
Barbiturates are a class of depressant drugs that are chemically derived from barbituric acid. They are effective when used medically as anxiolytics, hypnotics, and anticonvulsants, but have physical and psychological addiction potential as well as overdose potential among other possible adverse effects. They have been used recreationally for their anti-anxiety and sedative effects, and are thus controlled in most countries due to the risks associated with such use.