barbiturate parenteral

Barbiturates, which belong to a group of medicines called central nervous system depressants, may be used prior to undergoing surgery in order to relieve anxiety or tension. There are also certain barbiturates that are used to help control seizures in a number of disorders or diseases, such as epilepsy. Even though barbiturates have also been used to treat insomnia, they usually become less effective after two weeks of daily use, which is why they have been replaced by safer drugs. According to drugs.com, “Barbiturates have been shown to increase the chance of birth defects in humans”. Besides, taking them regularly during pregnancy may cause bleeding problems in the newborn infant. Barbiturates may, however, be used in serious situations that threaten the mother's life. According to the same source, “Barbiturates pass into the breast milk, and may cause drowsiness, slow heartbeat, shortness of breath, or troubled breathing in babies of nursing mothers.” Despite them being rare, the following side effects can also occur from time to time, and they include chest pain, fever, muscle pain, and swelling of eyelids/face/lips.