Barbiturates are a group of drugs known as sedative-hypnotics, which generally describes their sleep-inducing and anxiety-decreasing effects.
Person uses barbiturates as abused mostly to reduce anxiety, decrease inhibitions, and treat unwanted effects of illicit drugs. Barbiturates can be extremely dangerous because the correct dose is difficult to predict. Barbiturates are also addictive and can cause a life-threatening withdrawal syndrome.
There are many different kind of barbiturate: Amobarbital (Amytal), pentobarbital (Nembutal), Secobarbital (Seconal), Phenobarbital, and Tuinal
Effect of Subtance:
Sluggish coordination, emotional lability, faulty judgment, aggressiveness, nystagmus, strabismus, diplopia, decreased reflexes, ataxic gait, bradycardia, respiratory depression, stupor, decreased tendon reflexes.
Effect of Withdrawal:
Irritability, anxiety, tachycardia, tachypnea, nausea, tremors, muscle pain, confusion, hallucination, seizures, insomnia, vivid dreaming, coma, death.
Treatment:
- Detoxification
- Drugs: slowly taper the abused barbiturate, sodium bicarbonate (promotes excreation of barbiturates, and activated charcoal for overdose.
- Behavior therapy
- Psychotherapy
- Halfway houses
- Day or night hospitalization
- Twelve-step support groups
Nursing Intervention:
- Maintain airway
- Maintain client safety
- Monitor for alcohol abuse
- Monitor vital signs and neurologic status and notify physician if any abnormal readings
- Orient client to place, person, and time
- Provide a quiet environment with a light switched on
- Control combative behavior
- Encourage patient to express fears and anxiety
- Implement seizures precautions
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