Mephobarbital
From Drug Rehab Wiki
Mephobarbital is the generic name for the brand Mebaral. This drug is used to treat patients who suffer from anxiety, tension and apprehension. It is also prescribed for the prevention of seizures and physicians may prescribe it to a patient for other reasons according to needs.
As a barbiturate, Mephobarbital works by depressing the central nervous system or the brain. When the medication is given in low doses, it causes mild sedation. As a dosage is increased, it can cause sleep and even coma if given in amounts too large for the individual to withstand.
Mephobarbital possesses sedative, hypnotic and anticonvulsant properties. It is available in tablets for oral consumption and is a white, nearly odorless and tasteless powder that is slightly soluble in water and alcohol.
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Abuses of Mephobarbital
A controlled substance, mephobarbital is a Schedule IV Controlled Substance per the Controlled Substances Act. As a barbiturate, it does have the potential to be habit forming. If the medication is used for a long period of time, it can easily cause the development of tolerance, psychological and physical dependence for the user. As a tolerance develops, the individual needs more and more of the drug to achieve the desired effect.
Those individuals who are dependent upon Mephobarbital tend to display symptoms that are similar to those of chronic alcoholism. Dependence or abuse of the drug should be suspected if there is a strong desire to continue taking the drug; there is a tendency to increase the dose; there is a psychic dependence on the effects of the drug as displayed in perception; and a physical dependence on the effects as displayed by significant withdrawal effects when the drug is withdrawn.
Effects of Mephobarbital
Mephobarbital works by depressing the central nervous system. It can cause the brain to relax and cause sedation. When the dose is too high, it does put the individual at risk of coma or death. While some people will experience certain reactions to the drug, others may have no effects at all.
Those who do react to the drug may experience such common effects as clumsiness; dizziness; drowsiness; excessive daytime drowsiness; feeling of a whirling motion; headache; lightheadedness; nausea; tired feeling; vomiting; weak bones. More severe side effects can include confusion; difficulty sleeping; fainting; and very slow breathing.
Withdrawal of Mephobarbital
Those who become addicted to mephobarbital, or at least develop a dependence or tolerance, can experience withdrawal symptoms within 12 to 20 hours after the last dose of the drug.
Any and all of the following symptoms can occur in the Mephobarbital withdrawal stage:
· Anxiety
· Irritability
· Elevated heart and respiration rate
· Muscle pain
· Nausea
· Tremors
· Hallucinations
· Confusion
· Seizures
Treatment of Mephobarbital Addiction
Addiction to mephobarbital can take control of a person’s life and health. The withdrawal process can be painful and hard to handle alone. As a result, it is important that those with an addiction seek the help they need to stop taking the drug and to learn how to function normally without it. Detoxification is required to cleanse the body of this drug and must be done under the care of a board-certified physician and a board-certified addiction psychiatrist.
Many quality treatment centers suggest comfortable detox using withdrawal medications specific to mephobarbital abuse. A quality center will do a full physical on a person to determine the right medications for comfortable detox. This method helps to correct the chemical imbalances and should be combined with psychological evaluations and other medical care.
