Secobarbital Addiction Treatment That Actually Works

Secobarbital (brand name Seconal) is a sedative in a class known as barbiturates along with phenobarbital and pentobarbital. Secobarbital may be prescribed for the treatment of seizures and related conditions such as epilepsy, as well as for short-term treatment insomnia and as a preoperative sedative for people undergoing surgery.

Barbiturates like secobarbital were commonly prescribed until being largely supplanted in modern medicine by benzodiazepine-class sedatives, which carry a lower risk for overdose and work for longer periods of time.

Secobarbital increases the availability and effectiveness of a neurotransmitter chemical in the brain called gamma-aminobutyric acid (GABA).

GABA acts as an inhibitory neurotransmitter, suppressing excitation and communication between nerves in the brain and body. By amplifying its effects, secobarbital reduces anxiety and tension. It also produces feelings of sleepiness, loss of coordination, and impaired judgment.

Like other sedative drugs, secobarbital withdrawal symptoms are highly unpleasant, especially after prolonged use. Long-term barbiturate use causes the brain to become dependent on the drug to maintain GABA levels and function normally.

When users stop taking secobarbital, the low levels of GABA (and the inability to use it effectively) cause the brain and nerves to become hypersensitive, leading to extreme anxiety, difficulty concentrating, muscle twitching, shaking, and/or seizures.

The physical and mental withdrawal symptoms typically set in within a few hours following the last dose. These problems vary in severity and duration depending on the specific secobarbital dose taken and duration of use, but they may include the following:

• Anxiety
• Muscle twitching
• Tremor
• Weakness
• Dizziness
• Visual distortion
• Nausea
• Vomiting
• Insomnia
• Convulsions (seizures)
• Delirium (confusion)

The most effective way to treat secobarbital withdrawal is to use a combination of medical detox and psychological treatment  person cope with the stress and anxiety of quitting.

Medical detox for secobarbital typically starts with a prescription for a long-acting benzodiazepine medication such as Valium. From there, the patient’s dose will be gradually tapered down until they can discontinue it completely. This process allows the body to slowly adjust to lower and lower levels without inducing severe withdrawal symptoms.

Physicians may also prescribe other medications, such as antidepressants or beta-blockers, which have been shown to alleviate certain withdrawal symptoms in some people.

Secobarbital abuse can result in a number of unpleasant effects, including:

• drowsiness
• headache
• dizziness
• excitement or increased activity
• nausea
• vomiting
• slowed breathing or difficulty breathing
• swelling of the eyes, lips, or cheeks
• rash
• blistering or peeling skin
• fever
• confusion

In addition to overdose, other dangers associated with secobarbital (especially with chronic use and abuse) include:

• Cognitive impairment – permanent damage to attention, memory, and problem-solving skills
• Increased susceptibility for cancer, stroke, and heart attack
• Psychiatric symptoms, including depression, anxiety, and psychotic symptoms/delusions

The exact signs and symptoms of chronic secobarbital abuse vary from person to person, but may include:

• Drowsiness
• Sleeping for long periods of time
• Impaired thinking and judgment
• Slurred speech
• Loss of coordination
• Short-term memory loss
• Sluggishness
• Nausea or vomiting
• Delirium

Additionally, users with anxiety/panic disorders often experience a profound rebound once the medication wears off, leading to extreme anxiety symptoms.

Yes, you can overdose on secobarbital. Such overdoses are often fatal due to secobarbital’s ability to depress breathing and heart rate.

Additionally, mixing secobarbital with other Central Nervous System depressants like alcohol or opioids can greatly increase the chance of an overdose due to the way they amplify each other’s effects.