Home > Encyclopedia of Surgery > Barbiturates

Definition

Barbiturates are medicines that act on the central nervous system. They cause drowsiness and can control seizures.

Purpose

Barbiturates are in the group of medicines known as central nervous system depressants (CNS). Also known as sedative-hypnotic drugs, barbiturates make people very relaxed, calm, and sleepy. These drugs are sometimes used to help patients relax before surgery. Some may also be used to control seizures (convulsions). Although barbiturates have been used to treat nervousness and sleep problems, they have generally been replaced by other medicines for these purposes.

Although barbiturates have largely been replaced by other classes of drugs, some are still used in anesthesiology to induce anesthsia and lower the dose of inhaled anesthetics required for...