Chronic lack of sleep, disorders of the nervous system are not fatal in themselves, but they bring significant harm to he alth and well-being. Medicines of the barbiturate class help treat these ailments.
Composition and properties
Barbital sodium is a white crystalline powder, odorless, with a bitter aftertaste. The chemical formula of the drug - C8H11N2Na03, belongs to the class of barbiturates. Synonyms - veronal-sodium, barbitone, medinal. It is soluble in water already at a ratio of 1 to 5, slightly soluble in alcohol. An aqueous solution gives an alkaline reaction; when injected, it is prepared using sterilized water under sterile conditions. If stored for a long time, the solution decomposes.
High solubility makes it easy to be absorbed from the gastrointestinal tract, toxicity in the recommended amounts is harmless to he alth. Depending on the dose taken, it has a sedative or hypnotic effect. Easily cleared from the body.
Use, dosage
In medicine, sodium barbital helps with insomnia, nervousoverexcitation, neuralgia, gives anticonvulsant and antiemetic effect. Take the drug 30-40 minutes before bedtime, drink milk, warm tea.
The recommended oral dose for adults is 0.3-0.75 g, for children 0.025 to 0.25. The maximum daily intake is limited to 1 and 0.5 grams, respectively.
Subcutaneously or intramuscularly, the drug is administered up to 5 mg of a 10% solution, adding novocaine. Entering through the rectum is done using enemas (up to 0.5 g per 5-10 ml of water) or suppositories.
Powder is the main form of release of barbital-sodium, the pharmacopoeia prohibits its release in tablets. Storage of means is carried out in densely closed packing because of high hygroscopicity. Exclusion of access to the drug for children is a necessary condition.
The medicine is recommended for vomiting, convulsions, poisoning not only of people, but also of animals. Barbital sodium in a veterinarian prescription is not uncommon for sleep disorders, overexcitation of livestock, dogs, cats.
Negative factors
The use of the drug causes deep sleep for up to 8 hours, but widespread and permanent use is limited. The specificity of the effect of sleeping pills is that the duration of the "fast" phase increases, the "slow" phase, on the contrary, as a result, the structure of sleep is disturbed.
Use of sodium barbital for more than 15 days is addictive, treatment for more than 1.5 months is drug dependence.
Possible side effects:
- vomit;
- depression;
- headache;
- allergy
- failure.
The appearance of the above symptoms requires stopping the use of the drug. Changes in skin color, dilated pupils, irritability and anxiety are reasons to change therapy.
Contraindications
There are a number of factors that preclude the use of barbiturates:
- individual intolerance;
- diseases of the liver, kidneys;
- respiratory system disorders;
- pregnancy;
- diabetes mellitus;
- alcoholism.
Prolonged use or overdose causes irritability, aggressiveness, thought process disturbances and reduced performance. In special cases, there is a deterioration in vision, speech retardation.
Development of Addiction
Sleep disorders, deviations of the nervous system can be treated with sodium barbital for two weeks. Subsequently, addiction develops, achieving a positive effect requires increasing doses.
The negative impact is cumulative, after 2-3 months of use drug dependence develops. In the early stages, the patient may refuse the medication on his own, with prolonged abuse, serious and long treatment will be required.
Sodium barbital, like most drugs, requires medical advice and self-discipline, then a positive effect will be achieved without compromising he alth.
