Barbiturates - Are There Any Medical Reasons for Taking This Substance?

Are There Any Medical Reasons for Taking This Substance?

For many years, barbiturates were used as daytime sedatives. Since the discovery of another type of anti-anxiety drug called benzodiazepine, which is considered safer, barbiturates are not prescribed for this purpose as frequently as they once were.

When combined with an aspirin or nonaspirin pain reliever and caffeine, the barbiturate butalbital is effective in treating severe pain. It is sometimes prescribed to relieve the pain associated with migraine headaches.

As of 2005, barbiturates were used primarily for presurgical and surgical anesthesia. They were being administered to patients in operating rooms under an anesthetist's care. They also continued to be used in the treatment of certain types of epilepsy.