Barbiturates

Also indexed as: Aluratec®, Amobarbital, Amylbarbitone, Amytal®, Aprobarbital, Brevital®, Busodium®, Butabarbital, Butisol®, Mebaral®, Mephobarbital, Metharbital, Methohexital, Nembutal®, Pentobarbital, Pentothal, Pentothal®, Phenobarbitone®, Quinalbarbitone, Secobarbital, Seconal®, Sodium Pentothal, Talbutal, Thiamylal, Thiopental, Thiopental

Barbiturates are a family of drugs that depress nerve activity in the brain, which produces changes in mental activity ranging from mild sedation and sleep, to deep coma. They are used to treat anxiety, insomnia, seizure disorders, and migraine headaches. In addition, some barbiturates are used in surgery as general anesthetics.

Interactions involving barbiturates in general are described on this page. For interactions involving a specific barbiturate, refer to the highlighted drugs listed below.

Safetychecker Summary for Barbiturates
(for details about the summarized interactions, read the full article)

Avoid Avoid: Adverse interaction—Avoid these supplements when taking this medication because taking them together may cause undesirable or dangerous results.

Alcohol
Depletion or interference

None known
Side effect reduction/prevention

None known
Supportive interaction

None known
Reduced drug absorption/bioavailability

None known
Interactions common to many, if not all, Barbiturates are described in this article. Interactions reported for only one or several drugs in this class may not be listed in this article. Some drugs listed in this article are linked to articles specific to that respective drug; please refer to those individual drug articles. The information in this article may not necessarily apply to drugs in this class for which no separate article exists. If you are taking a Barbiturate for which no separate article exists, talk with your doctor or pharmacist.

An asterisk (*) next to an item in the summary indicates that the interaction is supported only by weak, fragmentary, and/or contradictory scientific evidence.

Interactions with Foods and Other Compounds

Alcohol
Drinking alcoholic beverages while taking barbiturates increases side effects, such as drowsiness, confusion, and dizziness;1 if taken in excess, this combination may result in death. Consequently, people taking barbiturates should avoid drinking alcohol.

References:

1. Olin BR, ed. Central Nervous System Drugs, Sedatives and Hypnotics, Barbiturates. In Facts and Comparisons Drug Information. St. Louis, MO: Facts and Comparisons, 1993, 1398–413.