The Archaic Barbiturate Hypnotics

Abstract

The nonspecific depressive action of barbituric acid derivatives on the central nervous system has been used to promote sleep ever since Fischer and von Mering introduced barbital into clinical medicine in 1903. Today, barbiturates remain far and away the hypnotics used most widely by ambulatory1 and hospitalized2 patients alike. In 1973 over 20 million prescriptions for barbiturates were filled in American retail pharmacies, and about half these drugs were given specifically for hypnotic purposes. The use of barbiturate hypnotics is decreasing both here and abroad, but the rate of decline is slow.3 The therapeutic overuse of "sleeping pills" has been . . .