Is Amobarbital Withdrawal Dangerous?
Barbiturates were once widely prescribed to help patients calm down and sleep. Still, these sedative-hypnotic drugs are no longer widely used for one important reason: They have a high potential for abuse and addiction. Barbiturates can cause many side effects, which is why chronic users need to find help to quit these addictive prescription drugs as soon as possible. Among the many dangers of these drugs are amobarbital withdrawal, which can be highly distressing and even become potentially life-threatening without medical help.
Table of contents
» What Is Amobarbital?
» What Are the Common Symptoms of Amobarbital Withdrawal?
» How Soon Do Symptoms of Amobarbital Withdrawal Begin?
» Can Suddenly Stopping Amobarbital Be Life-Threatening?
» Key Takeaways on Amobarbital Withdrawal
» Resources
What Is Amobarbital?
Amobarbital, which is available under the brand name Amytal Sodium, is a type of barbiturate that is prescribed as a sedative for short-term treatment of insomnia. Like all other barbiturates, it works by binding to GABAA receptors in the brain, slowing down the central nervous system and causing sleepiness. However, this reaction can also lead to feelings of euphoria, impaired memory and judgment, and a loss of normal restraint – and it has a high potential for misuse and even addiction with repeated use.
Many possible side effects can be caused by amobarbital, including:
- Sleepiness
- Confusion or agitation
- Nervousness, agitation, and anxiety
- Dizziness
- Nausea or vomiting
- Constipation
- Headaches and fever
- Nightmares
- Sleep apnea
- Fainting
- Lowered blood pressure
- Hallucinations or abnormal thoughts
- Slower breathing and heart rate
- Coordination problems
- Muscle spasms
- Liver damage
- Rash, hives, or red and peeling skin
- Difficulty breathing or swallowing
- Swelling
- Chest or throat tightness
- Emotional problems, such as suicidal thoughts, depression, mood swings, or anxiety
In addition, amobarbital can interact with other drugs and cause severe problems, which is why it’s crucial always to tell your doctor about any other medication or supplement you’re taking before starting a new prescription. Some sources say amobarbital can cause serious interactions with more than 100 different drugs, as well as moderate or minor interactions with hundreds of other substances. In addition, this drug can easily become habit-forming, leading to tolerance and dependence over time, as well as causing many other mental or physical health problems all on its own.
What Are the Common Symptoms of Amobarbital Withdrawal?
Amobarbital is considered to be an intermediate-acting barbiturate, which means it lasts for four to six hours. While it can be an effective short-term treatment for insomnia and is sometimes used for certain brain function tests, barbiturates like amobarbital aren’t used nearly as much anymore as they were in the past because of their high potential for misuse and dependence, as well as the many side effects they can cause.
In addition, newer types of drugs have largely replaced barbiturates in the United States to treat things like seizures, insomnia, and sedation before surgery because they are much safer and less risky overall.
Like benzodiazepines, barbiturates depress the central nervous system and help people relax, lower their anxiety, and feel drowsy. However, benzodiazepines are generally considered to be safer with fewer side effects (even though they also have a high potential for misuse and possible addiction). If someone has taken barbiturates like amobarbital for long periods of time or begun to misuse the drugs, they could be at risk of amobarbital withdrawal if they quit or don’t take enough, with symptoms including:
- Agitation
- Nervousness
- Tremors
- Shaking
- Confusion
- Delirium
- Seizures
While the risk of dependence can be lowered by only taking these drugs exactly as prescribed, some people can still develop a problem and eventually have a reliance on or become addicted to the drug. In serious cases, barbiturate withdrawal can become severe, distressing, and even potentially life-threatening, which is why people shouldn’t quit cold turkey on their own or ignore possible withdrawal symptoms.
Instead, they should seek out help at prescription drug addiction treatment centers in Florida that can assist them with medically supervised detox and comprehensive addiction treatment programs.
How Soon Do Symptoms of Amobarbital Withdrawal Begin?
Barbiturate withdrawal doesn’t necessarily begin the moment that someone stops taking the drugs, and there are cases of severe withdrawal starting as much as two to four days after they quit using the drug. One patient, for example, had been on barbiturates to treat persistent headaches for more than two years. When she stopped taking the medication that contained butalbital, she started to suffer from withdrawal symptoms. She was eventually admitted to the hospital because she was experiencing seizures, hallucinations, and delirium.
Barbiturate withdrawal symptoms can include things like anxiety, insomnia, restlessness, tremors, dizziness, seizures, and even psychosis. While some people can get through withdrawal without severe problems, it can quickly add up to dangerous conditions like overheating, circulatory failure, and even death.
Another thing to watch out for is the potential interaction of amobarbital with other central nervous system depressants, including alcohol, benzodiazepines, tranquilizers, and antihistamines, which can cause amplified depressant effects and potentially become dangerous.
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Can Suddenly Stopping Amobarbital Be Life-Threatening?
Amobarbital withdrawal can happen when someone who has been using this barbiturate for long periods of time and developed a dependence and addiction to it suddenly quits taking the drug. While some people can get through this period of time without severe problems, others can start to experience highly distressing and even dangerous things like seizures, psychosis, hyperthermia (dangerously high body temperatures), and more. That’s why, in some cases, this kind of withdrawal can become life-threatening.
Instead of abruptly stopping, you must consult medical professionals or addiction treatment specialists at a prescription drug rehab in Florida to figure out the best plan to get off the drug in the safest way possible. At drug rehab centers, patients will usually undergo a short but essential period of medical detox that provides medical support and medications that can help prevent or manage severe withdrawal symptoms and make the process much safer.
Once you’ve stabilized and your body has started to get used to no longer having the barbiturate, you’ll be much more ready to address the physical and mental aspects of addiction in a comprehensive drug rehab program.
Key Takeaways on Amobarbital Withdrawal
- Amobarbital is a type of barbiturate that is sometimes prescribed as a short-term treatment for insomnia.
- It’s considered to be an intermediate-acting barbiturate, with effects lasting four to six hours.
- If taken for long periods of time or abused, amobarbital can cause dependence and addiction.
- Someone who is addicted to this drug and suddenly quits taking it can experience amobarbital withdrawal symptoms that can become dangerous and even life-threatening.
- Addiction treatment and drug detox programs can help people safely get through withdrawal and learn to live without the drug anymore.
If you or your loved one is suffering from addiction to barbiturates like amobarbital, it’s important to keep in mind that effective, comprehensive treatment is available that can help you overcome this chronic condition. Across Florida, WhiteSands Treatment offers a wide range of drug rehab programs that can help you get off this addictive drug and learn to embrace a better, healthier future without barbiturates. Call us at 877-855-3470 today to learn how to get started on the road to recovery.
Resources
- RxList – Amobarbital
- National Library of Medicine – Withdrawal Syndromes
- National Library of Medicine – Barbiturate Withdrawal Syndrome: A Case Associated with the Abuse of a Headache Medication
- Cleveland Clinic – Barbiturates
If you or a loved one needs help with abuse and/or treatment, please call the WhiteSands Treatment at (877) 855-3470. Our addiction specialists can assess your recovery needs and help you get the addiction treatment that provides the best chance for your long-term recovery.
About the Author
Jackie has been involved in the substance abuse and addiction treatment sector for over five years and this is something that she is truly eager about. She has a passion for writing and continuously works to create informative pieces that not only educate and inform the public about the disease of addiction but also provide solutions for those who struggle with drug and alcohol abuse.
