A class of sedative-hypnotic drugs that depress the central nervous system by enhancing GABA activity, once commonly used for anxiety and sleep disorders but now largely replaced by safer alternatives. Still used for anesthesia and seizure control.
Named after barbituric acid, discovered by Adolf von Baeyer in 1864, reportedly named after Saint Barbara or a woman named Barbara he knew. The suffix '-ate' indicates a salt or ester of the acid.
Barbiturates were the original 'sleeping pills' and anxiety medications of the early-to-mid 20th century, but they have an extremely narrow margin between a therapeutic dose and a lethal one. Marilyn Monroe's death from barbiturate overdose in 1962 highlighted their dangers and accelerated the search for safer alternatives like benzodiazepines.
Complete word intelligence in one call. Free tier — 50 lookups/day.