Barbiturates are a family of prescription sedatives. They include butalbital, phenobarbital, and secobarbital. Because these drugs are both highly addictive and easy to build up a tolerance to, they’re prescribed much less often. Barbiturates have been largely replaced by benzodiazepines like Xanax.

What are Barbiturates?

These drugs are still prescribed, however. Exceptionally dangerous when mixed with alcohol, opioids, and other drugs, barbiturate abuse can be lethal.

Withdrawal from barbiturates is unpleasant, complex, and potentially lethal. Great care has to be taken to avoid complications like hallucinations and seizures. Detoxing from barbiturates must be done in a professional, medically supervised detox facility for the best results.