Barbiturates (BAR)

Slang Term(s): Barbs, barbies, sleepers, blue bullets, blues, pink ladies, pinks, block busters

Screening Cut-off in Urine: 300 ng/mL

Drug Information

Barbiturates are central nervous system depressants. They are used therapeutically as sedatives, hypnotics, and anticonvulsants.

Barbiturates are almost always taken orally as capsules or tablets. The effects resemble those of intoxication with alcohol. Chronic use of barbiturates leads to tolerance and physical dependence.

Short acting Barbiturates taken at 400 mg/day for 2-3 months can produce a clinically significant degree of physical dependence. Withdrawal symptoms experienced during periods of drug abstinence can be severe enough to cause death. Only a small amount (less than 5%) of most Barbiturates are excreted unaltered in the urine.

The approximate detection time limits for Barbiturates are:

Short acting (e.g. Secobarbital 100 mg PO (oral) 4.5 days
Long acting (e.g. Phenobarbital) 400 mg PO (oral) 7 days