Master Barbiturates with Picmonic for Medicine

Barbiturates such as phenobarbital are indicated for seizures. They are used to treat epilepsy and are effective against simple and complex partial seizures as well as generalized tonic-clonic seizures..

Ultra-short-acting barbiturates can be used for anesthesia induction, exemplified by thiopental. Thiopental is administered intravenously and has been nicknamed the "truth serum" as it may influence patients to divulge sensitive information.

Barbiturates work by allosterically modulating GABA_A receptors. This modulation leads to increased efficacy of GABA, causing an increase in the duration of Cl^- channel opening. In contrast to these drugs, benzodiazepines increase the frequency of Cl^- channel opening.
"Barb opens her chloride channel for a long duration, nice and slow."

By increasing Cl^- channel opening duration, neuronal firing is decreased.

Barbiturates, in the past, were used to treat insomnia and anxiety. They are no longer for these purposes, as patients were left sedated and groggy. Patients often complain of feeling "hungover."

Barbiturates often mimic ethanol and can lead to severe respiratory and cardiovascular depression. This effect is often displayed as respiratory arrest and low blood pressure in patients who abuse these drugs.

This side effect occurs with overdose and can also be seen with concurrent ethanol use. Barbiturates bind to GABA_A, as does ethanol, explaining their additive effects. Patients can display ataxia, dizziness, impaired judgment, and can progress to death.

These medications induce cytochrome P450. P450 enzymes assist in removing many drugs from the bloodstream. When these enzymes are increased, the clearance of such drugs from the blood is also increased. Therefore, barbiturates can shorten the effects of other administered drugs, making them less effective.