What Are Barbiturates?
Barbiturates are medicines sometimes used to treat epilepsy and seizures. One common example is phenobarbital.
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Symptoms of Barbiturate Poisoning
- Feeling confused or irritable, sometimes combative
- Very sleepy or lacking energy
- Low or irregular heartbeat, which can lead to shock
- Breathing problems that may become severe, potentially leading to coma
How Is Barbiturate Poisoning Treated?
In some cases, a special treatment called alkalinisation is done using sodium bicarbonate through an IV to help the body remove the poison more quickly; this is done by specialists.
Supportive care is given to help the body cope.
Oxygen therapy is provided to support breathing.
Intravenous fluids are given to raise low blood pressure.
Activated charcoal may be used to reduce absorption of the poison, but only if given within one hour of taking the drug and if the person is awake enough to avoid choking.
If breathing becomes very weak, ventilatory support (a breathing machine) may be needed.
