Due to the human capacity of adaptation of any external action, our body build very fast tolerance to barbiturates. From this reason, the users will increase the dose in order to feel the same effect of high, and from here to addiction is only a small step. This way can a medically prescribed drug to create addiction like heroin or cocaine.

Once addicted to barbiturates, a user will often seek out the drug to obtain the same kind of high as achieved before. However, doing this requires more and more of the drug. And this is where things get dangerous, because the higher the dose of the barbiturate you take, the more likely it is that you will overdose.

Barbiturate addicts abuse the drug to feel an extreme calm and contentedness. However, when “high” on this drug, you will experience many different symptoms including respiratory depression, low blood pressure, fever, confusion, impaired judgment, sedation and fatigue.

Unfortunately, abuse of this substance could lead to respiratory arrest, one of the primary causes of death in barbiturate abusers. Overdose symptoms include confusion, slurred speech, drowsiness, and fatigue and may even result in coma or death. If the drug is stopped suddenly, there is a high risk for withdrawal symptoms, which are very uncomfortable and even painful.

Stopping use of barbiturates is not something to be taken lightly. And one important thing to remember is that it’s not a wise idea to try to go it alone. With the high number and severity of withdrawal symptoms associated with these drugs, it is best you detox and recover in a drug treatment program. Then, once you get sober, you can participate in a sober living program to help keep you off the drugs.

Barbiturates do have legitimate medical uses but they are very easy to abuse, making them a rather dangerous substance, especially when you consider they are sometimes used to euthanize animals.

We strongly recommend to everyone reading this article to stay out of barbiturates abuse or to use it only with medical prescription and under medical control, however, if you or someone close to you have problems with barbiturates addiction.