Test Description

Why get tested?

Barbiturates test identifies the barbiturate drugs in urine samples. These drugs are a category of commonly misused drugs. The main reason for their misuse is to counteract the symptoms due to other drugs. These drugs are not generally prescribed these days, and benzodiazepines are used as an alternative as they are relatively safer, though they can still be addictive.

Barbiturates drugs are also used in medical treatments but their overdose leads to addiction which has risks to health.

What is being tested?

Barbiturates drugs are also used in medical treatments but their overdose leads to addiction which has risks to health. The Barbiturates test identifies addiction to barbiturates and the overdose of medicines containing barbiturates. Barbiturates are also called central nervous system depressants. They increase the activity of the GABA neurotransmitter that hinders the action of the brain's nerve cells. GABA is gamma-aminobutyric acid, a neurotransmitter that inhibits the activity of the nerve cells of neurons. 

Barbiturates are classified into four categories based on the effect of their use as some barbiturates have long-lasting impacts on health. Following are the four types of barbiturates:

• Ultra short-acting: For instance thiopental, methohexital

• Short-acting: For instance secobarbital, pentobarbital

• Intermediate-acting: For instance butabarbital, amobarbital

• Long-acting: For instance primidone, phenobarbital

Preparation needed?

No

Fasting required?

No