We are independent & ad-supported. We may earn a commission for purchases made through our links.
Advertiser Disclosure
Our website is an independent, advertising-supported platform. We provide our content free of charge to our readers, and to keep it that way, we rely on revenue generated through advertisements and affiliate partnerships. This means that when you click on certain links on our site and make a purchase, we may earn a commission. Learn more.
How We Make Money
We sustain our operations through affiliate commissions and advertising. If you click on an affiliate link and make a purchase, we may receive a commission from the merchant at no additional cost to you. We also display advertisements on our website, which help generate revenue to support our work and keep our content free for readers. Our editorial team operates independently of our advertising and affiliate partnerships to ensure that our content remains unbiased and focused on providing you with the best information and recommendations based on thorough research and honest evaluations. To remain transparent, we’ve provided a list of our current affiliate partners here.
Health

Our Promise to you

Founded in 2002, our company has been a trusted resource for readers seeking informative and engaging content. Our dedication to quality remains unwavering—and will never change. We follow a strict editorial policy, ensuring that our content is authored by highly qualified professionals and edited by subject matter experts. This guarantees that everything we publish is objective, accurate, and trustworthy.

Over the years, we've refined our approach to cover a wide range of topics, providing readers with reliable and practical advice to enhance their knowledge and skills. That's why millions of readers turn to us each year. Join us in celebrating the joy of learning, guided by standards you can trust.

What Is Barbiturate Withdrawal?

By C. Webb
Updated: May 17, 2024
Views: 8,838
References
Share

Barbiturate withdrawal occurs when a person stops taking barbiturate medication without tapering the dose down first. Regular barbiturate use, whether prescribed or through illegal means, can cause psychological and physical dependence on the drug. Due to the euphoric mental state that large amounts of barbiturates can cause, it does not take long for psychological addiction to occur. Severe withdrawal can induce life-threatening symptoms and death.

Medical use for barbiturates includes sedation and seizure prevention. Patients who take more than 500 mg of barbiturates daily for more than five months are at risk for serious withdrawal symptoms once the drug is stopped. Experts recommend patients presenting with symptoms of barbiturate withdrawal, such as hyperactivity and anxiety, be admitted to the hospital. It can be dangerous to treat withdrawal from barbiturates on an outpatient basis.

In addition to anxiety and hyperactivity, early barbiturate withdrawal symptoms can include sweating and a rapid heart rate. Inability to sleep, dizziness, and weakness are also clear indicators that a person is entering withdrawal. As the withdrawal continues, more serious symptoms appear. Tremors, hallucinations, and fatal seizures can occur during a non-medically monitored withdrawal process. There is a significantly high mortality rate associated with unmonitored barbiturate withdrawal.

A primary problem with prescribed barbiturate use is that over time, the body develops a tolerance to the drug. If the drug is used for legitimate medical purposes, such tolerance issues are usually addressed by the physician prescribing higher doses over time. This practice can lead to dependence, however. Severe withdrawal symptoms have also been reported at therapeutic dosages.

Acute symptoms of barbiturate withdrawal become evident eight to 16 hours after the last dose is taken. Physical withdrawal can take two weeks to complete. The psychological factor can last months.

Treatment for barbiturate withdrawal includes medical monitoring, medications, and a recommendation for outpatient addiction meetings. During withdrawal, barbiturates are continued, and the dosage is slowly cut down until the patient can safely stop them. Blood tests are taken to determine when each dosage reduction should occur. Some patients receive dosages of a medication that block the withdrawal symptoms.

Share
WiseGeek is dedicated to providing accurate and trustworthy information. We carefully select reputable sources and employ a rigorous fact-checking process to maintain the highest standards. To learn more about our commitment to accuracy, read our editorial process.
Link to Sources

Editors' Picks

Discussion Comments
By anon357763 — On Dec 06, 2013

I've taken 150 mg of butalbital each day for a few years. I've had chronic headaches since I was a teenager. Can I go for a few days without or am I in danger of having a fatal seizure? The thought of being without doesn't frighten me a much as the warnings of seizures and almost certain death.

Share
https://www.wisegeek.net/what-is-barbiturate-withdrawal.htm
Copy this link
WiseGeek, in your inbox

Our latest articles, guides, and more, delivered daily.

WiseGeek, in your inbox

Our latest articles, guides, and more, delivered daily.