Barbituates Testing

Examples: Long acting- phenobarbital; intermediate-acting- amobarbital
(Amytal), butabarbital, talbutal; short-acting- secobarbital (Seconal),
pentobarbital (Nembutal).

Medical uses: Treatment of insomnia (short term only, and avoided
altogether by most physicians), long-term treatment of epilepsy
(phenobarbital), surgical anesthesia.

Effects attractive to abuser: Sedation, loss of inhibitions, induction
of sleep. Generally, the short-acting barbiturates have more abuse
potential than long-acting types.

Adverse effects: Agitation, confusion, nightmares, hallucinations,
lethargy, hangover, suppression of breathing reflexes, coma, death.
Physical dependence is well known, and withdrawal effects can be severe and
dangerous, even fatal.

How abused: Pills taken orally; solution injected intravenously.

Typical urine detection cutoff level: 300 ng/mL

Period detectable after last dose: long-acting 7 days, intermediate-acting
2-3 days; short-acting 1-2 days.

Substances causing false positive results: None reported.