Phenobarbital an anticonvulsive and sedative against insomnia

He phenobarbital It is a psychoopharmacus with a powerful anticonvulsive, sedative and hypnotic action Very used today, but few people know exactly what it is, under what brands are presented and what effects it has. Today, we tell you everything you should know about this barbiturate.

Content

• What is phenobarbital?
• Risks of phenobarbital
• How to stop taking phenobarbital
  • Bibliographic references

What is phenobarbital?

The first thing you should know about the phenobarbital is that it is a substance that belongs to a group of medicines known as barbiturates. That is, a family of drugs that acts in the central nervous system (CNS) and that produces a sedation effect on the person who ingests it. The result is a slower functioning of the brain.

This substance is used above all to Control seizures. However, this element is also used in many cases to control anxiety problems, so is part of many medications such as anxiolytic.

Phenobarbital is a substance that generates addiction. For this reason, it is an element that must always be consumed under strict medical control, since if the treatment is taken prolonged over time, adverse effects can occur, in addition to a tolerance to this substance that entails the need for a greater consumption of the same.

Some of the contexts in which this substance is indicated are, for example, in cases of acute convulsive episodes, although always under medical prescription. It is also widely used as sedative and to treat insomnia, given the hypnotic effect that produces.

The phenobarbital doses must be appropriate to each type of patient, depending on the age and physical complexion of the person. Thus, it is possible that it will also be indicated in babies, mainly in cases of children with seizures due to various factors, such as febrile episodes.

Some of their most famous commercial names are: Luminal, Gardenal and Luminaletas.

Risks of phenobarbital

The phenobarbital, as we said before, is a substance widely used in people with difficulties in reconciling sleep. This is one of the most common problems in today.

The consequences of this disorder are translated into a worst quality of life, so it is usually common to go to medicines that help to reconcile sleep. The most common are those that contain phenobarbital.

This last assumption, that of insomnia, is one of the most control requires when taking this type of medication, since it usually generates a huge dependence on the people who consume it. The level of tolerance and dependence generated by this substance It can cause, in the long term, to stop effect, so it will be necessary to consume a higher dose to obtain the effect that was achieved at the beginning of initiating its consumption. For this reason, you have to be very careful when this drug is consumed, since in a high dose it can become lethal. Thus, it is estimated that from the 6 grams of consumption can produce death in the person who consumes it.

This is even worse if mixed with other drugs, such as alcohol or other toxic substances or medications. In these cases, it can be lethal for those who take it with an even lower amount, since the blood concentration linked to that of the other substance can be really dangerous and end life.

Therefore, you have to take it Always with strict medical supervision, Since it is a drug that, although legal, produces an important effect on the brain that leads to patient addiction, tolerance, dependence and, ultimately, to the need for increasing consumption.

How to stop taking phenobarbital

Being a type of drug that creates a huge physical and psychological dependence, Stop taking the phenobarbital is something that must be done gradually. Specialists recommend gradually reducing their consumption.

The problem is that after being carried out in time, the sudden interruption of this substance can cause a very difficult withdrawal syndrome to support for the patient, with symptoms ranging from delirium to seizures. This is because it acts directly in the central nervous system, so you have to accustom the brain little by little to dispense with this substance with which you are accustomed to living together.

As you can see, the phenobarbital It is a drug with a great presence in our societies today. It is important that you know the information we have given you both if you use it personally as if someone uses it ... you have to know what is consumed!

Tobacco: Effects of nicotine on the brain and body

Bibliographic references

• González-Sáiz, f. (2012). Treaty of drug dependencies. Elsevier Spain.
• López-Muñoz, f., & Uucha-deb, r. (2016). Drugs: Myths and realities. Pyramid editions.
• López-Muñoz, f., & Uucha-deb, r. (2014). Barbiturates: History, pharmacology and adverse effects. Magazine of Psychiatry and Mental Health, 7 (4), 190-202.
• Perucca, e. (2015). Pharmacological and Therapeutic Properties of Phenobarbital. In phenobarbital: from Bedside to Bench (pp. 3-14). Springer International Publishing.