Barbiturate intoxication and overdose

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Intoxication - barbiturates

Symptoms of acute barbiturate intoxication include:

• Sluggishness
• Incoordination
• Difficulty in thinking
• Slowness of speech
• Faulty judgment
• Drowsiness or coma
• Shallow breathing
• Staggering

Physical exam and clinical history are usually sufficient to make the diagnosis. Drug screens, both urine and serum, can detect barbiturates for up to 5 days after ingestion. Additional blood tests may show the severity of breathing difficulty.

Review Date: 05/17/2006
Reviewed By: Paul Ballas, D.O., Department of Psychiatry, Thomas Jefferson University Hospital, Philadelphia, PA. Review provided by VeriMed Healthcare Network.