Barbiturates are an over-the-counter medicine for people suffering from Generalized Anxiety Disorder, seizures, or insomnia. This prescription medication is a brain-relaxer that induces an exciting feeling among its users. The high produced by barbiturates is compared to the feeling one receives from drinking too much alcohol. As is common, certain individuals began to abuse these drugs for this effect. Today, doctors have begun prescribing alternative medications, so that barbiturates aren’t prescribed as often. In fact, statistics show that overall barbiturate use is on the decline in Northern America. However, barbiturate addiction and abuse are still present in the United States, especially among teens and young adults. The Wellness Retreat Recovery center offers valuable treatments for individuals recovering from a prescription dependency, such as Drug Detox, Addiction Therapy, and Aftercare.

Signs of Barbiturate Addiction

Barbiturate addiction is very dangerous and users are typically ignorant of how easy it is to overdose. Nonetheless, some understand and accept this increased risk. It is so easy to overdose on barbiturates that suicidal individuals may abuse them in attempts to commit suicide. Additionally, drug abusers will sometimes use barbiturates with other drugs to ‘come down’ or to dull the effects produced by stimulants.

• User appears drowsy, intoxicated or drunk
• Slurred speech
• Poor judgment
• Trouble walking
• Coma-like state
• Memory loss
• Lack of awareness
• Irritable
• Lying about their medication
• Hiding evidence of barbiturate usage
• Blacking out
• Sustaining injuries while high
• Mood swings

If a user continues to abuse barbiturates, serious complications could arise. In many cases, people will overdose, fall into a coma, or die. It is vital that addicts using these drugs seek treatment for their addiction before this happens.

Common Barbiturate Medications

Barbiturates are sold as a prescription medication in the United States. Although helpful in medical situations with short-term treatment, those prescribed with barbiturates are at risk of developing a barbiturate addiction after long-term use. Commonly prescribed barbiturate medications include:

• Secobarbital (Seconal)
• Pentobarbital (Nembutal)
• Butalbital (Fiorinal)
• Phenobarbital (Lunial)
• Methohexital (Brevital)
• Amobarbital (Amytal)

If you currently have one of these medications, keep it hidden away from children, teens, and young adults. They may choose to abuse the effects of the medication. If you think you’re struggling with addiction to one of these prescriptions, you may require treatment to detox the body and learn to curb addictive behaviors as a result of developed dependence.

Barbiturate Addiction Withdrawal Symptoms

After the abuse of barbiturates or throughout prescribed treatments, people can quickly develop a dependency on these drugs. When the body becomes dependent on barbiturates, it starts to show adverse reactions when the drug is not taken. When dependent people stop using the drug, they experience withdrawal symptoms as a result of dependency. Common barbiturate withdrawal symptoms may include:

• Hallucinations
• Difficulty sleeping
• Irritation
• Agitation
• Fever
• Seizures
• Trembling
• Seizures
• Heart attack

If someone takes these drugs for a long period of time, they may stop using expected mental capacity. This is because the drug can bind to fatty tissue, where it may remain until the body uses it for calories. This residue is sometimes released, causing the person to experience effects such as poor decision-making, cravings, and drowsiness; even years after they stopped taking the drug.

Barbiturate Detox

Once individuals stop abusing barbiturates after long-term use, they will begin to suffer from withdrawal symptoms. If they do not seek medical treatment or a rehabilitation center, these withdrawal symptoms could be life-threatening. Once detox is complete, the risk of overdose is much higher. Frequently, relapsing individuals will administer a dosage that their bodies were used to previous to detox, and the result is an overdose that may end in death. It is vital that the individual is under medical supervision during his/her detox to prevent this outcome. Symptoms will usually begin within a few hours of the last dose and will persist for 1-2 weeks. A psychosis-like state may begin to take hold 3-8 days into the detox period. However, with medical help, risk of this state is not as likely. Throughout the medical detox process, non-habit forming medications may be administered to reduce or prevent agitating withdrawal symptoms.

Barbiturate Addiction Recovery

Altogether, at the Wellness Retreat Recovery Center, individuals can experience a safe environment in which to detox from their addictions. Our facility offers recovering addicts personalized care from experienced medical professionals. Medical staff will be available throughout the recovery process to guide the patient through this process 24 hours a day. Several amenities and services are also available to all individuals enrolled in medical detox and treatment. For more information, contact us at The Wellness Retreat Recovery Center — 888-821-0238.