Barbiturates [General Monograph]

This chapter discusses barbiturates. It presents the approved indications of the drug for neuropsychological disorders, usual dosage and administration, available dosage forms, storage, and compatibility, and the mechanism of action. Information on relative contraindications, clinically significant drug interactions, adverse drug reactions, and overdosage is also provided. Classified as an anticonvulsant (sedative-hypnotic) (barbiturate) (C-II, C-III), barbiturates are prescribed for partial and tonic-clonic seizures. Prescribing psychologists should monitor patients for the desired therapeutic response to the prescribed barbiturate pharmacotherapy and concurrent use of interacting drugs. The anticonvulsant action of the barbiturates appears to involve binding to barbiturate receptors within the GABA receptor complex. This binding results in the retention of GABA at its receptor and an increased influx of chloride ions through the associated chloride channels. Most of the clinically significant drug interactions involving the barbiturates have occurred with phenobarbital.