Barbiturates were developed in 1868 from barbiturate acid. They currently make up over 2,500 diverse compounds and were typically used until the seventies medically as sedatives, hypnotics, or anti-convulsants. Barbiturates are now used to treat a multitude of conditions from migraine headaches to anxiety, insomnia, and seizures. There are several methods of administering barbiturates, including oral, intramuscular, and intravenous.

Short-term effects from barbiturate use:

1. Relaxation of the CNS (causing sleep, relaxed muscles, and reduction of anxiety)
2. Can influence the brain stem and lungs, producing sleep and affecting breathing, heart-rate, speech, and movement

Long-term effects:

1. Cardiovascular (bradycardia and hypertension)
2. Digestive system (nausea, vomiting, and constipation)
3. Nervous system (agitation, hyperkinesis, ataxia, confusion, CNS depression, nightmares, nervousness, psychiatric disturbance, hallucinations, insomnia, anxiety, dizziness, and abnormalities in thinking)
4. Reproductive system (if a mother takes barbiturates during the last trimester of pregnancy, the fetus may have abnormalities and experience withdrawal symptoms if the barbiturates cross the placenta barrier)
5. Respiratory system (hypoventilation and apnea)
6. Other reactions like headaches, fever, damage to the liver, megaloblastic anemia, and site injection reactions

Early on in barbiturate use, there are psychological effects that vary from reduced tensions and anxiety to complete euphoria. Withdrawal will not occur until 6-8 hours after use and is characterized by nausea, vomiting, rapid heart-rate, extreme sweating, stomach cramps, and tremors.