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 This is because barbiturates have been replaced by other drugs or substances.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.

AFTER YOU LEAVE:

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 dangerous and life-threatening. 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.

Wellness hints:

• Eating and drinking:
  
  
  • Eat a variety of healthy foods such as fruits, vegetables, whole-grain breads, low-fat dairy products, beans, lean meat and fish. Eating healthy foods may help you have more energy and heal faster. Ask your caregiver if you need to be on a special diet.
    
    
  • Men 19 years old and older should drink about 3.0 Liters of liquid each day (close to 13 eight-ounce cups). Women 19 years old and older should drink about 2.2 Liters of liquid each day (close to 9 eight-ounce cups). Follow your caregiver's advice if you must change the amount of liquid you drink. For most people, good liquids to drink are water, juices, and milk. If you are used to drinking liquids that contain caffeine, such as coffee, these can also be counted in your daily liquid amount. Try to drink enough liquid each day, and not just when you feel thirsty.
  
  
• Start exercising: Talk to your caregiver before you start exercising. Together you can plan the best exercise program for you. It is best to start slowly and do more as you get stronger. Exercising can help make your heart stronger, lower your blood pressure, and keep you healthy.
  
  
• Quit smoking: It is never too late to quit smoking. Smoking harms the heart, lungs, and the blood. You are more likely to have a heart attack, lung disease, and cancer if you smoke. You will help yourself and those around you by not smoking. Ask your caregiver for more information about how to stop smoking if you are having trouble quitting.
  
  
• Avoid stress: Stress may slow healing and cause illness. Since it is hard to avoid stress, learn to control it. Learn new ways to relax, such as deep breathing. Talk to your caregiver about things that upset you.

For support and more information: Barbiturate abuse is hard for you and your family. You may feel scared, confused, and anxious because of your barbiturate abuse problem. You may blame yourself and think you have done something wrong. These feelings are common. Talk about them with your caregiver or with someone close to you. Ask your caregiver about support groups for people with drug abuse problems. Contact any of the following:

• National Clearinghouse on Drug and Alcohol Information
  Phone: 1-800-7296686
  Web Address: www.health.org
  

• American Society of Addiction Medicine
  4601 N. Park Avenue Upper Arcade, Suite 101
  Chevy Chase, MD 20815
  Phone: 1-301-656-3815
  Web Address: http://www.asam.org
  

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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