Barbiturate Withdrawal Treatment

Are you or a loved one in need of barbiturate withdrawal treatment? It’s time to get the facts.

Barbiturates are central nervous system depressants that are used for mild sedation, anesthesia, anticonvulsants and hypnotics. They are often prescribed to induce sleep and treat anxiety, but they can be extremely dangerous because the correct dosage is difficult to predict and an overdose can cause coma and death. Barbiturates are highly addictive and barbiturate withdrawal can cause life-threatening health complications. Anyone who is addicted to barbiturates should receive professional barbiturate withdrawal treatment at a drug rehab facility, where they will be monitored and kept safe throughout the process.

There are several different types of barbiturates and their street names usually identify them in a specific way. Some of the various barbiturates and their street names include:

• Tuinal – double trouble, gorilla pills, tooies, rainbows, reds and blues and F-66s
• Phenobarbital – goof balls, purple hearts
• Amobarbital – blue velvet, downers, blue devils, blue heavens
• Secobarbital – pinks, pink ladies, red devils, seggy, reds, red birds, F-40s and lilly
• Pentobarbital – abbots, yellow jackets, nembies, Mexican yellows

Barbiturates can easily create an overdose that can cause accidental death, and some people were using the drug to commit suicide. Because of these problems, the drug is now classified as a Class B drug by The Misuse of Drug Act. Barbiturates can only be purchased with a doctor’s prescription and possession by any other means is considered a legal offense punishable by up to fourteen years in prison and a fine. If barbiturates are prepared as a solution for injection they become a class A drug with more severe penalties for illegal possession.

There are many symptoms of barbiturate addiction and long-term use may create permanent health problems. Some symptoms of barbiturate addiction are:

• A lack of motor coordination
• Fatigue
• Temper tantrums
• Mood swings
• Anger
• Disorderly vocalizations
• Non compliance
• Slurred speech
• Sedation
• Impairment of executive functions of the brain
• Reduced anxiety
• Depression
• Self injury
• Lying and stealing
• Memory impairment
• Shallow breathing

The use of barbiturates can cause physical and psychological dependence on the drug and withdrawal symptoms often occur within a few hours after cessation of the drug. Sudden withdrawal of the drug may cause adverse health complications that can lead to death. Some of the many barbiturate withdrawal symptoms include:

• Anxiety
• Nausea
• Convulsions
• Shallow breathing and fainting
• Hallucinations
• Low blood pressure
• Lack of motor coordination
• Restlessness
• Weakness and fatigue
• Memory lapses
• Circulatory failure
• Psychosis
• Hostility
• Violent behavior
• Rhythmic intention tremor
• Hyperthermia
• Seizures
• Delirium
• Death

Withdrawal from the use of barbiturates is extremely dangerous and should never be done alone. Anyone struggling with a barbiturate addiction should be treated at a drug rehab facility. The medical staff at the drug rehab is knowledgeable and experienced in the barbiturate detox protocol. They can provide a safe and effective withdrawal of barbiturates from the patient’s body. The patient should have an in-patient status at the rehab center and the detox process should be performed gradually so that the patient’s body can adjust to the decreases of the drug. The barbiturate detox protocol should include 24/7 monitoring of the patient until the process is completed and the patient is stable and safe.

Because abrupt withdrawal of barbiturates from the body can be fatal, it is essential that a small measure of the drug be reduced at a time. Monitoring allows the medical staff to identify how the patient’s body is reacting to the decrease of the drug, and they will be able to slow down or stop the process if necessary. The medical staff can also administer medications to help ease some of the withdrawal symptoms and keep the patient as comfortable as possible.

If you or a loved one has a barbiturate abuse or addiction problem you will need the help of drug addiction specialists to recover. A drug rehab facility can provide a safe barbiturate detox protocol and psychological counseling and therapy to help you lead a sober life.

If you or a loved one needs help with abuse and/or treatment, please call the WhiteSands Treatment at (877) 855-3470. Our addiction specialists can assess your recovery needs and help you get the addiction treatment that provides the best chance for your long-term recovery.