Secobarbital (PE)

Barbiturates are a class of around 12 compounds derivatized from barbituric acid. They are central nervous system (CNS) depressants and can be used as sedatives, hypnotics, anaesthetics and anti-epileptic drugs. Barbiturates can be divided into three main groups according to their duration of action. The ultra-short-acting barbiturates are used clinically as anaesthetics while the long-acting barbiturates have anti-convulsant properties. The short-acting compounds are typically used as hypnotics (1, 2). The short-acting barbiturates are extensively metabolised by the liver to more pharmacologically...