barbiturates
Central nervous depressants
Barbiturates are a class of sedative drugs that depress the central nervous system.
Once widely prescribed for anxiety, insomnia, and seizures, they have largely been replaced by safer alternatives like benzodiazepines.
Barbiturates remain in use for anesthesia and certain seizure disorders.
They carry high risks of dependence, overdose, and dangerous interactions with alcohol: She died from an overdose of barbiturates.
Sedative used for euthanasia
- thiopentalIntravenous anesthetic agent
- luminalOf a cavity's interior
- sedationDrug-induced calm state
- drowsinessState of near-sleep
hypnotic · tranquilizer · soporific · sleep-inducing · calming · relaxation · downer · stupor
Induced loss of feeling
- anticonvulsantDrug preventing seizures
- epilepsyBrain disorder causing seizures
- inductionFormal admission process
- preoperativeBefore a medical procedure
intravenous · pharmacology · neurology · prescription · insomnia · seizure · toxicology · overdose
State of needing another
- withdrawalAct of taking away
- toleranceWillingness to accept difference
- abuseCruel or violent treatment
- habit-formingCausing repeated compulsive use
overdose · relapse · detoxification · rehabilitation · craving · tapering · black-market · scheduling
Amiably foolish people
- yellow-jacketsGround-nesting social wasps
- 1960sDecade after the fifties
- 1970sFourth decade, twentieth century
- replacedRemoved and substituted
pentobarbital
Sedative used for euthanasia
- thiopentalIntravenous anesthetic agent
- luminalOf a cavity's interior
- sedationDrug-induced calm state
drowsiness · hypnotic · tranquilizer · soporific · sleep-inducing · calming · relaxation · downer · stupor · lethargy
anesthesia
Induced loss of feeling
- anticonvulsantDrug preventing seizures
- epilepsyBrain disorder causing seizures
- inductionFormal admission process
preoperative · intravenous · pharmacology · neurology · prescription · insomnia · seizure · toxicology · overdose · therapeutic
dependence
State of needing another
- withdrawalAct of taking away
- toleranceWillingness to accept difference
- abuseCruel or violent treatment
habit-forming · overdose · relapse · detoxification · rehabilitation · craving · tapering · black-market · scheduling · naloxone
goofballs
Amiably foolish people
- yellow-jacketsGround-nesting social wasps
- 1960sDecade after the fifties
- 1970sFourth decade, twentieth century
replaced · benzodiazepines · overprescription · suicide · euthanasia
- medicationspills, Tylenol, capsules, tablets, Xanax
- Substancesmatter, elements, compounds, molecules, atoms
- drugsibuprofen, marijuana, aspirin, meth, cocaine
- addictive thingsalcohol, cocaine, heroin, nicotine, opioids
- Neuroactive Drugsdopamine, serotonin, GABA, acetylcholine, norepinephrine
- psychoactivesLSD, MDMA, cannabis, psilocybin, heroin
barbituratesstimulants
Agents that heighten arousal
amphetamines · methamphetamine · cocaine · uppers · speed
barbituratesbenzodiazepines
Sedative-hypnotic drug class
SSRIs · melatonin · cognitive behavioral therapy · sleep hygiene