Introduction

Over the phone, the doctor cannot provide suitable treatment for barbiturate misuse. A hospital emergency department visit is required.

If you suspect someone has abused barbiturates, take him or her to a hospital emergency department for a medical checkup. A person may be drowsy or appear inebriated shortly after taking barbiturates, but more dangerous symptoms can develop fast and unpredictably.

If the person is drowsy or you are unable to arouse the person (if he or she seems to be in a coma), call 911 for emergency medical transport and immediate treatment in the ambulance.

Bring any remaining tablets, pill bottles, or any medicines that the person may have taken with you to the hospital.

Self-Care at Home

There is no treatment for barbiturate abuse at home. If you suspect someone has abused barbiturates, take him or her to the hospital for a medical checkup.

Barbiturates have a restricted therapeutic index and, if used incorrectly, can cause coma or death. This is especially true for youngsters and the elderly.

Because children are smaller and weight less than adults, even small doses of barbiturates could be life threatening.

Barbiturates can cause comas in the elderly who are more vulnerable to them.

Follow-up

Although rare, anyone addicted to barbiturates requires long-term treatment to avoid deadly withdrawal symptoms. Individuals who are addicted to barbiturates are treated with decreasing doses of the drugs (a process known as detoxification) until they are drug free.