Allobarbital

As Allobarbital is called a medicinal substance. It has a calming, drowsy and pain-relieving effect. Across Europe, however, the drug is subject to numerous legal restrictions and thus also achieves the status of a drug.

What is allobarbital?

The allobarbital comes in the form of a white powder. In this respect, it is often administered as a tablet or capsule. Due to its solubility in water, however, it is also diluted with plasma in some cases and introduced into the patient's body as an infusion.

The remedy, which comes from the barbiturate family, has been used medicinally for around 100 years - but is now considered controversial. With repeated use it has an addictive effect and can also cause death in the event of a single overdose. In general, the allobarbital has a calming effect.

It is supposed to reduce the activity of the brain as well as the consciousness. As a result, patients perceive increased tiredness and tend to sleep. The preparation also lowers the sensation of pain. As a sedative before and as an additional anesthetic during an operation, it has therefore gained great importance for decades.

Pharmacological effect

As a barbiturate, the allobarbital accesses the nervous system of the person concerned. It comes into contact with the nerve cells through the bloodstream. The GABA receptor is primarily occupied there. This binds the gamma-aminobutyric acid, which functions here as a neurotransmitter. The latter thus transports pain and other sensations to the brain.

However, the allobarbital blocks the receptor. In this way, the gamma-aminobutyric acid cannot reach the patient's thinking and consciousness center. Even more: the allobarbital is even capable of imitating the receptor. This allows further gamma-amino butyric acids to be bound and prevented from being transported. As a result, calming down and insensitivity to pain can be achieved.

Therefore, the allobarbital was used in particular as a component of anesthesia, but was also prescribed temporarily as a pain reliever. The duration of action of the preparation lasts about four to six hours after administration. Even before and shortly after this period, however, the effects are already perceptible or in a weaker form.

Medical application & use

However, the allobarbital has come under increasing criticism in recent years. Its addictive properties mean that a prescription as a sleep aid is no longer made in most European countries. In the Eastern European nations in particular, it is still used as a sedative and is intended to relieve the patient's anxiety before the various medical interventions.

A supporting effect of the analgesics is also possible. These pain relievers affect the person's perception. A combined administration of an analgesic in connection with the allobarbital was therefore observed more frequently. Still, the latter drug is on the decline. It has too strong side effects.

In addition, its effect can be achieved with less risk with other active ingredients. Recourse to this barbiturate is avoided. Only in a few cases is it still common to add it to the usual psychotropic drugs. The aim here is to calm the brain and the consciousness - but only in very small doses and without exception in combination with other remedies.

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Risks & side effects

Overall, the allobarbital has too much potential for danger. It can trigger or promote addiction to intoxicants. In high doses it is harmful to fatal. Even if the lethal amount would be difficult to achieve for a person.

The barbiturate may therefore be used without exception as prescribed and ordered by a specialist. Slightly sedating after-effects can be felt again and again after ingestion. They can appear in the form of increased tiredness or decreased level of consciousness. Motor skills are also inhibited. Driving a car should therefore be avoided in those moments.

In contrast, impairment of the gastrointestinal tract is rarely recorded. However, dizziness, diarrhea and vomiting would be the typical symptoms. However, the allobarbital can only be found in a few medicinal products today and is likely to be withdrawn from the market entirely within the next few years.