Barbiturate medications are used to relieve anxiety, control seizures, or produce a sleeplike state. Barbiturates slow breathing, lower blood pressure and body temperature, and slow thought processes and reaction times.

Frequent or long-term use of barbiturates may make a person dependent on them. In the past, barbiturates were used to treat insomnia; however, barbiturates are no longer recommended as sleeping aids because of the potential for dependence.

Common barbiturates include phenobarbital, pentobarbital (Nembutal), and secobarbital (Seconal).