Talbutal (Lotusate) is a

barbiturate Barbiturates are a class of depressant drugs that are chemically derived from barbituric acid. They are effective when used medically as anxiolytics, hypnotics, and anticonvulsants, but have physical and psychological addiction potential a ...

with a short to intermediate duration of action. It is a

structural isomer In chemistry, a structural isomer (or constitutional isomer in the IUPAC nomenclature) of a compound is another compound whose molecule has the same number of atoms of each element, but with logically distinct bonds between them. The term meta ...

butalbital Butalbital is a barbiturate with an intermediate duration of action. Butalbital is often combined with other medications, such as paracetamol (acetaminophen) or aspirin, for the treatment of pain and headache. The various formulations combined wi ...

. Talbutal is a schedule III drug in the U.S.

Pharmacology

Talbutal is a short to intermediate-acting barbiturate. Barbiturates act as nonselective depressants of the

central nervous system The central nervous system (CNS) is the part of the nervous system consisting primarily of the brain and spinal cord. The CNS is so named because the brain integrates the received information and coordinates and influences the activity of all p ...

(CNS), capable of producing all levels of CNS mood alteration from excitation to mild sedation, hypnosis, and deep coma. In sufficiently high therapeutic doses, barbiturates induce

anesthesia Anesthesia is a state of controlled, temporary loss of sensation or awareness that is induced for medical or veterinary purposes. It may include some or all of analgesia (relief from or prevention of pain), paralysis (muscle relaxation), ...

Mechanism of action

Talbutal binds at a distinct binding site associated with a Cl⁻ ionophore at the GABA_A receptor, increasing the duration of time for which the Cl⁻ ionophore is open. The post-synaptic inhibitory effect of GABA in the thalamus is, therefore, prolonged.

Toxicity

Symptoms of acute barbiturate poisoning include drowsiness, confusion, coma, respiratory depression,

hypotension Hypotension is low blood pressure. Blood pressure is the force of blood pushing against the walls of the arteries as the heart pumps out blood. Blood pressure is indicated by two numbers, the systolic blood pressure (the top number) and the di ...

, and shock.

References

Barbiturates GABAA receptor positive allosteric modulators Allyl compounds {{sedative-stub