Thursday, September 28, 2023
HomeLaboratory MedicineBarbiturate Levels

Barbiturate Levels

Reference Range

Barbiturates are sedatives/hypnotics used mainly for anesthesia and epilepsy treatment. They affect the gamma-aminobutyric acid (GABA) system and cause a CNS suppressive effect, which ranges from anxiolysis, sedation, and coma to fatal cardiovascular and respiratory arrest upon overdose.
They are classified as short-acting, intermediate-acting, and long-acting. See Table 1 for classification and properties.

Table 1. Classification and Properties of Barbiturates (Open Table in a new window)

Drug

Half-life (h)

Duration of Effect (h)

Hypnotic Dose, mg

Minimum Toxic level, mg/L

Ultra–short-acting

Methohexital

3-5

< 0.5

50-120

>5

Thiopental

8-10

< 0.5

50-75

>5

Short-acting

Secobarbital

15-40

>3-4

100-200

>10

Intermediate-acting

Amobarbital

10-40

>4-6

65-200

>10

Butabarbital

35-50

>4-6

100-200

>10

Long-acting

Mephobarbital

10-70

>6-12

50-100

>30

Phenobarbital

80-120

>6-12

100-320

>30

RELATED ARTICLES
- Advertisment -

Most Popular