Talk:Pentobarbital

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Fatal overdose may occur when alcohol is combined with other depressants such as opiates, benzodiazepines, barbiturates, gabapentinoids, thienodiazepines or other GABAergic substances.

It is strongly discouraged to combine these substances, particularly in common to heavy doses.

Pentobarbital, also known as pentobarbitone in the United Kingdom and by the brand name Nembutal, is a short-acting psychoactive drug of the barbiturate class which produces powerful anxiolytic, hypnotic, muscle relaxant and amnesic effects. Pentobarbital is used medically as a hypnotic for the short-term treatment of insomnia and as an anticonvulsant in emergency situations. Pentobarbital works in a similar fashion to benzodiazepines, however barbiturates bind to a different allosteric site on the GABA_A receptor.

Compared to other barbiturates such as phenobarbital, pentobarbital has a fast onset of action, generally working within fifteen minutes of ingestion. Pentobarbital's anxiolytic effects may last for up to 36 hours after the primary effects have worn off.

Pentobarbital, like most short-acting barbiturates, is considered to be extremely addictive. The sudden discontinuation of pentobarbital in dependent individuals may be life-threatening and lead to seizures and even death. Pentobarbital drastically enhances the effects of other depressants such as alcohol, and concurrent use may lead to respiratory depression and possibly death.

Chemistry

Pentobarbital is a drug of the barbiturate class. Barbiturate drugs contain the backbone of barbituric acid. Pentobarbital has a 5-ethyl, 5-methylbutyl substitution on the 5-position of the barbituric acid backbone which gives it its unique pharmacological effects.

Pharmacology

Barbiturates work in a similar fashion to benzodiazepines. Pentobarbital binds to an allosteric site on the GABA_A receptor and potentiates the effects of the endogenous ligand, gamma-aminobutyric acid. When barbiturates bind to GABA_A receptor, it causes the ion pore to open for extended periods of time, causing an increase of intracellular chlorine ion concentrations.

Subjective effects

The effects listed below are based upon the subjective effects index and personal experiences of PsychonautWiki contributors. The listed effects will rarely (if ever) occur all at once, but heavier dosages will increase the chances and are more likely to induce a full range of effects.

Physical effects

• Sedation - In terms of energy level alterations, this drug has the potential to be extremely sedating and often results in an overwhelmingly lethargic state. At higher levels, this causes users to suddenly feel as if they are extremely sleep deprived and have not slept for days, forcing them to sit down and generally feel as if they are constantly on the verge of passing out instead of engaging in physical activities. This sense of sleep deprivation increases proportional to dosage and eventually becomes powerful enough to force a person into complete unconsciousness.
• Motor control loss
• Muscle relaxation
• Dizziness
• Respiratory depression
• Seizure suppression
• Physical euphoria
• Decreased libido

Cognitive effects

• Anxiety suppression
• Cognitive euphoria - Compared to other GABAergic depressants, this effect is particularly strong. The feeling itself can be described as an extremely strong feeling of relaxed contentment.
• Thought deceleration
• Analysis suppression
• Disinhibition
• Information processing suppression
• Amnesia
• Language suppression - At higher doses, pentobarbital is known to caused slurred speech.
• Compulsive redosing
• Emotion suppression - Although this compound primarily suppresses anxiety, it also dulls other emotions in a manner which is distinct but less intensive than that of antipsychotics.
• Delusions of sobriety - This is the false belief that one is perfectly sober despite obvious evidence to the contrary such as severe cognitive impairment and an inability to fully communicate with others. It most commonly occurs at heavy dosages.

Visual effects

• Acuity suppression