Barbiturate

Pronunciation

Definition 1

A type of drug that causes a decrease in brain activity. Barbiturates may be used to treat insomnia, seizures, and convulsions, and to relieve anxiety and tension before surgery. A barbiturate is a type of central nervous system (CNS) depressant. (NCI Dictionary)

Definition 2

A class of drugs characterized as central nervous system (CNS) depressants. Barbiturate compounds bind to the gamma amino butyric acid (GABA)-A receptor, thereby increasing the influx of chloride ions into the neuron and subsequently causing hyperpolarization, which produces a decrease in neuronal transmission. Other barbiturate effects in the CNS may include modulation of sodium and calcium channels as well as inhibition of glutamate-mediated excitation. Although the effects of barbiturates are seen throughout the CNS, the predominant effect occurs in the midbrain region, the part of the brain associated with arousal. CNS depressive effects associated with this drug class include mild sedation, hypnosis, anesthesia, and coma as well as a decrease in seizure activity. (NCI Thesaurus)

Definition 3

A drug used to treat insomnia, seizures, and convulsions, and to relieve anxiety and tension before surgery. It belongs to the family of drugs called central nervous system (CNS) depressants. (NCI Dictionary)

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