Barbiturate Abuse

WHAT YOU SHOULD KNOW:

• Barbiturate abuse is a condition where you take barbiturates in ways other than advised by your caregiver. Barbiturates are sedatives used to treat insomnia (sleeplessness), anxiety (nervousness), and seizures (convulsions). Barbiturate abuse may include taking the drug too long or too much. You may feel like you need to have the drug even if you do not need it. Over time, you may become addicted to the drug, and have frequent and serious impairment or distress. Pregnant women who are addicted to these drugs may give birth to an addicted baby. At present, fewer people are abusing barbiturates than there has been in the past. This is because barbiturates have been replaced by other drugs or substances.
  
  
• The exact cause of barbiturate abuse is not known. You may start abusing barbiturates after physical or emotional stress, such as the loss of a loved one. You may think that taking these drugs will make the problems in your life better. You may also abuse barbiturates to relieve anxiety, depression (deep sadness), loneliness, or tension. Having friends or family members who use drugs, or having other mental disorders may increase your chance of abusing barbiturates.
  
  
• Signs and symptoms include having problems with your social and personal life, and poor performance in work or school. You may often have legal problems and take unnecessary risks. Caregivers use a guide to diagnose barbiturate abuse. The symptoms must have occurred more than once in 12-months. Your caregiver may also do urine tests, such as an immunoassay or thin-layer chromatography, to look for barbiturates. Treatment for barbiturate abuse includes medicines, detoxification, and other special therapies. Diagnosing and treating barbiturate abuse as soon as possible may relieve your symptoms and prevent more serious problems.

INSTRUCTIONS:

Medicines:

• Keep a written list of the medicines you take, the amounts, and when and why you take them. Bring the list of your medicines or the pill bottles when you see your caregivers. Learn why you take each medicine. Ask your caregiver for information about your medicine. Do not use any medicines, over-the-counter drugs, vitamins, herbs, or food supplements without first talking to caregivers.
  
  
• Always take your medicine as directed by caregivers. Call your caregiver if you think your medicines are not helping or if you feel you are having side effects. Do not quit taking your medicines until you discuss it with your caregiver. If you are taking medicine that makes you drowsy, do not drive or use heavy equipment.

To keep from abusing drugs again, take only as much of any drug as your caregiver has told you. Check with your caregiver to see how long it is safe for you to take any medicine.

Ask your caregiver when to return for a follow-up visit. Keep all appointments. Write down any questions you may have. This way you will remember to ask these questions during your next visit.

Coping with a drug problem:

• Be honest and open with family and close friends. Ask for their help.
  
  
• Find a hobby or new things to do. Get out of the house everyday. Go for walks.
  
  
• It is very important not to use barbiturates if you have a barbiturate problem. It is far too easy to fall into old patterns if you take barbiturates again.
  
  
• Join a barbiturate support group and go to the meetings.
  
  
• Stay away from people who use and abuse barbiturates and who try to get you to take them.
  
  
• Taking barbiturates with alcohol is very dangerous. If you use a barbiturate, do not drink alcohol.
  
  
• The more you know about barbiturate abuse, the better you will be able to help yourself. Ask your caregiver for good sources of information. Work with your caregiver and other people recovering from barbiturate abuse to help yourself.

CONTACT A CAREGIVER IF:

• You cannot fight the need to take barbiturates. Call your caregiver, a counselor, friend, or family member you trust right away.
  
  
• You feel your problems are getting the best of you and you cannot deal with them on your own.

SEEK CARE IMMEDIATELY IF:

• You have chest pain, sweating, or breathing problems.
  
  
• You feel like hurting or killing yourself or someone else.
  
  
• You pass out or have a seizure (convulsion).
  
  
• You have a hallucination. This is seeing or hearing things that are not there.

Copyright © 2008 Thomson Healthcare Inc. All rights reserved. Information is for End User's use only and may not be sold, redistributed or otherwise used for commercial purposes.

The above information is an educational aid only. It is not intended as medical advice for individual conditions or treatments. Talk to your doctor, nurse or pharmacist before following any medical regimen to see if it is safe and effective for you.

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