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Barbiturates Are They Dangerous and Deathly?
Barbiturates are drugs that should be used as clinical depressants to treat individuals who suffer from insomnia, stress, anxiety, or epileptic seizures. “Well known figures such as: actress, Marilyn Monroe, and shipping millionaires,
Christina Onassis used barbiturates that may have contributed to their deaths”
(Los, Angeles Times, 1988). Forensic test showed the presence of two or more
Barbiturates in their system at the time of their death.
Barbiturates can be dangerous because when used over long periods of time they can become addictive. The body begins to build up an tolerance, thus causing the body to need a greater amount of the drug to achieve the desires affect, according to Narcotics Anonymous (www.na.org). Using barbiturates in large amounts can lead to an overdose, comatose state, or even death. Over the years barbiturates have obtained a
‘street name’ such as: “blues,” for Amytal, “yellow jacks,” for Nembutal, and “red birds,” for Seconal. Individuals who use these drugs for addiction purposes have either a high or low effect of the drug ranging from 4 to 6 hours.
“Each time the drug is used to get that “high feeling” people become psychologically and physically dependent on the drug. After some time the body begins to have withdrawal symptoms such as: high excitability, loss of appetite; impaired motor skills, tremors, weight loss, and vomiting. In severe cases symptoms include hallucinations, hypothermia, high fever or convulsions”
(Amphetamines and Other Stimulants, 10-11).

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Another barbiturate that is not often talked about is Rohypnol (flunitrazepam), it is often mixed with alcohol as a “date rape” drug, because when mixed with alcohol, a person becomes incapable of resisting a sexual assault (Henderson, 18). It is less addictive but if used incorrectly can cause memory loss, seizures or even death. Even well known, medical researcher, Sigmund Feud used barbiturates and cocaine to treat his bout with depression.
“He described using drugs as a feeling exhilarating and lasting euphoria which in no way differs from normal euphoria of a healthy person. You perceive an increase in self-control and possess more vitality and capacity for work. In other words, you are simply more normal and is soon hard to believe that you are under the influence of a drug” (Henderson, 12).
In 1865 Adolph von Baeyer created a malonic acid called barbituric acid to help others suffering from depression. His desire was to help them achieve euphoria, a feeling of happiness or well-being. Then in 1904, two German Scientist, Joseph von Mering and Emil Fisher began to experiment with the malonic acid renamed
Barbital and found that it could help with anxiety and nerve conditions. They later, published and branded barbital under the name Veronal (Baeyer, 2015). Unfortunately, their new drug Veronal had many side effects that may have proved deadly. Those individuals who used their treatment suffered with memory loss, coordination issues, dizzy spells, sleepiness, paranoid tendencies and suicidal thoughts.
Although barbiturates can be addictive, they have been used medically in controlled form for specific treatment. In low doses doctors have used barbiturates for sedation, and Boley 3

hypnotic purposes during surgery. Also, Doctors have prescribed long acting barbiturates such as Phenobarbital with other medications to control or prevent epileptic seizures. So far more than 2,500 barbiturates have been synthesized, but 50 of them Doctors use in a controlled environment. Chloral hydrate is a mild sedative that doctors commonly use today because is less addictive and can be used to treat insomnia, and can be administered without the need of injection, allowing treatment in the home, making it unnecessary to confide an individual to neuropsychiatric situations. One hundred years after the introduction of barbiturates, we can safely say their wide use has come to almost an end, because doctors fear their huge dependency, may threaten the lives of many. (Shorter,
1997).
Marilyn Monroe used Nembutal, Seconal and Amytal to induce sleep and to control insomnia. Several doctors believe she had no idea how dangerous these drugs were because it was a common trend for “movie stars” during the 50’s and 60’s to use them as a way to stay awake, sleep and lose weight. Authors, Peter Harry Brown and
Patte Barham, say “her doctor is to be blamed for her addiction and death.” (Brown and
Barham, 397). This is why barbiturates should not be used in large quantities, because it can lead to an over dose or death. Some doctors also believe that using these drugs can result to depression, urinary problems, liver and kidney problems. As with any drug, barbiturates should be supervised by a medical doctor and should not be used for self- medicating to control a condition. In low doses barbiturates can be beneficial to individuals who are stressed, suffering with anxiety, blood pressure or epileptic seizures.

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Works Cited
“Adolph von Baeyer –Biographical.” Nobelprize.org. Nobel Media AB 2014.
Web. 14 Apr. 2015.
Barham, Patle, B. and Harry Brown. The Last Take Marilyn. Ontario, Canada, 1992. Print.
Clayton, Lawrence. Amphetamines and Other Stimulants. The Rosen Publishing Group,
Inc. New York, 2001.
Henderson, Harry. Drug Abuse, United States of America for Publication Data, 2005. Print.
Shorter E. “A History of Psychiatry.” From the era of Asylum to the age of Prozac. New York.
J. Wiley, 1997.