Description
Barbiturates - derivatives of Barbituric acid - are sedative drugs which at low doses induce relaxation and at high doses induce coma and even death. Barbiturates are usually administered orally but may also be taken intravenously or intramuscularly and are absorbed rapidly. The metabolism of Barbiturates is mainly in the liver, a number of metabolic pathways have been described which include oxidation, desulfuration and ring cleavage. Because the number and the proportion of the various Barbiturate metabolites varies with each individual the results are expressed in terms of the equivalents of the standard, secobarbital/ml