Substance
Barbiturates

[Other Names]
Amobarbital
Aprobarbital
Butabarbital
Mephobarbital
Methohexital
Pentobarbital
Phenobarbital
Secobarbital
Talbutal
Thiopental

Pathology
Depressed neuronal activity of the brain, hypotension caused by depression of central sympathetic tone, inhibition of cardiac contractility.

Symptoms
Drowsiness, confusion, ataxia, vertigo, slurred speech, shallow respiration and pulse, headache, stupor, hypotension, areflexia, cyanosis, hypothermia, cardiovascular collapse, respiratory arrest, death.

Emergency Measures
Airway maintenance and ventilation assistance, treatment of hypotension, activated charcoal and cathartic, alkalinization of urine to enhance phenobarbital elimination, hemoperfusion for severe toxicity.

Comments
Severity of toxicity depends on the agent ingested.