Barbituates
Barbiturate. Now where would you think of a name like that? Legend has it that this drug was derived when a 29 year old research assistant, Adolph von Baeyer, was working in his Belgian laboratory in 1863 when he took the condensation of malonic acid and combined it with Urea. Von Baeyer went downtown to a local pub to celebrate where some army officers where celebrating Feast Day of Saint Barbara. So he took the name Barbara and combined it with the chemical that mostly made up this new acid and came out with barbituric acid. In 1912, two German scientists used von Baeyer's acid to synthesize a new drug, barbitol. What they were looking for was a drug that would combat the effects of anxiety and nervousness. They were successful but the side effects were too great. Barbiturates are drugs that cause depression of the central nervous system and are generally used to induce europhia. D.C. Heath's Perspectives on HEALTH defines europhia as a feeling of intense happiness and well being. Most users take the pills orally, often with alcohol. The most common way to get the barbiturates is in tablet form. Other ways to get barbiturates include ampoules, syrup, or
The psychological effects are much like that of alcohol but at a higher level. States of mild euphoria, desinhibitition, relief of anxiety, and sleepiness occur. At higher doses impairment of memory, judgement and coordination, irritability, paranoid and suicidal ideation occur. Some physical byproducts are sleepiness, dizziness, nausea, slurred speech, and decreased respiration. Dependence upon this drug is almost guaranteed. Each time the dosage must be raised to get the same "high" feeling. People who use these drugs daily for prolonged periods of time may become psychologically and physically dependent. Psychological dependence exists when they are addicted so much that the need to continue its use becomes more of a craving. The physical dependence happens when the body has adapted to the presence of the drug, and withdrawal symptoms occur when the use is abruptly ended. Such withdrawal symptoms differ from the amount of drug taken. Mild withdrawal symptoms include apprehension, high-excitability, mild tremors, loss of appetite, and hair standing on end. Intermediate withdrawal symptoms include severe tremors, muscle rigidity, impaired motor activity, retc
Some common words found in the essay are:
Amytal Tuinal, Nervous System, Saint Barbara, Perspectives HEALTH, , Von Baeyer, Baeyer Belgian, withdrawal symptoms, nervous system, withdrawal symptoms include, symptoms include, von baeyer, barbiturates classified, slurred speech, central nervous system, central nervous,
Approximate Word count = 795
Approximate Pages = 3 (250 words per page double spaced)
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