Barbituates

by William Powell

Barbituates are basically the opposite of amphetamines: that is, they act to depress the central nervous system. In small doses they act as tranquilizers, but in larger doses they are sleeping pills. The sleep induced by barbituates is not a normal sleep, in the sense that it seriously cuts down on the normal dream activity. Prolonged use of sleeping pills can lead to copmplete psychological crack-ups,as the mind has no way to release itself. Barbituates are often a means of comitting suicide. Therefore, as with all drugs, know what you are doing.

"The barbituate addict presents a shocking spectacle. He cannot coordinate, he staggers, falls off bar stools, goes to sleep in the middle of sentences, food drops out of his mouth. He is confused, quarrelsome and stupid."

-- William S. Burroughs, NAKED LUNCH

Types of Barbituates:

LUMINAL: Fatal dosage is about 800-1,000 milligrams. Luminal is considered a strong long-acting barbituate. It is usually sold in purple (16 mg), white (32 mg), or green (100 mg) grooved tablets.

AMYTAL: This is also considered a strong long-acting barbituate. A heavy dose is between 100 and 250 milligrams. Amytal is sold in light green (15-milligram), yellow (30-milligram), orange (50-milligram), and pink (100-milligram) capsule-shaped scored tablets, with "Lilly" inscribed in the different colors listed above.

AMYTAL SODIUM: Very similar to the above amytal, but is sold in light blue capsules with a darker band of blue where the upper and lower parts meet. Same dosage as above.

BUTISOL SODIUM: Butisol is sold in flat green, orange, pink or lavender tablets inscribed with "McNeil." A heavy dose is 150 milligrams.

NEMBUTAL: Nembutal is a short-acting barbituate with sedative and hypnotic effects. A heavy dose of nembutal or "yellow jackets" is about 200 milligrams. This, as with all barbituates, is extremely dangerous when taken, if the liver is infected or impaired. Nembutal is sold in 30-milligram all-yellow capsules, with an "a" on the bottom part; 50-milligram capsules with yellow caps and white bottoms with an "a" on the bottom part; and 100-milligram all-yellow capsules with the word "Abbott" inscribed.

SECONAL: Seconal is probably the most popular black-market barbituate, as it is very popular with doctors.It is referred to as "red devils, red birds, or reds," because of the color of the capsules. It is sold in 32-milligram red capsules, and a heavy dose is about 150-milligrams.

LIBRIUM: Librium is a minor tranquilizer, and the usual recommended dosage is from 5-15 milligrams three to four times a day. This is one of the easiest depressants to obtain, as doctors tend to prescribe it for anything from sleeplessness to acute nervousness. It is sold in 5-milligram green and yellow capsules inscribed "Roche 5," 10-milligram brown and green capsules inscribed "Roche 10," and 25-milligram green and white capsules inscribed "Roche 25."

VALIUM: This is also a minor tranquilizer, with the recommended dosage being about 5-10 milligrams, two to three times a day. It is sold in white 2-milligram and yellow 5-milligram tablets inscribed with the word "Roche."

THORAZINE: This is a very strong drug. It is classified as a major tranquilizer and should be used with the utmost care. Thorazine is used at such hellholes as Bellevue to keep mental patients quiet. The usual recommended dosage is about 25 milligrams. It has been used in the treatment of bad acid trips. However, as I stated earlier, I feel that thorazine will quiet a person down, but has no regard for when he wakes up. I would not recommend its use.