The Science Behind Benzodiazepines vs Barbiturates: Understanding How They Work

Drug addiction is a serious problem in the United States. More than 96,700 people die every year from drug overdose, and the cumulative total since 2000 is approaching one million.

Increasingly, drug addiction begins or is worsened by access to prescription medications. Powerful ones, like benzodiazepines and barbiturates, are common examples. Both are sedative-hypnotic drugs but with different properties, uses, effects, and withdrawal symptoms.

This article explains the differences between benzodiazepines vs barbiturates. Keep reading to find out how each one works and the impacts it can have on the mind and body.

What Are Benzodiazepines?

Benzodiazepines, or “benzos” for short, are central nervous system depressants. They produce sedation and hypnosis. They also can relieve anxiety, muscle spasms, and seizures.

Benzo abuse occurs when people take the drug recreationally. They might ingest excessive amounts or crush the medication up and snort it to achieve greater effects. Benzo abuse is particularly prevalent among cocaine and heroin users.

What Are Barbiturates?

Barbiturates have been around for more than 150 years. They were first synthesized in 1864 by German chemist Adolf von Baeyer.

Barbiturates are sedative-hypnotic medications. They produce a sense of relaxation and sleepiness. The most common reason doctors prescribe barbiturates is part of a general anesthesia regime for surgery.

Barbiturates are used to treat other conditions as well. Insomnia and seizure disorders are two common ones, as well as rare conditions like high cerebrospinal fluid in the skull.

Barbiturate prescriptions are less common today. That is because safer medications have taken their place.

How Do Benzodiazepines and Barbiturates Work?

Benzodiazepines and barbiturates have similar drug effects, namely sedating the central nervous system. They also both have a high risk of dependency. (Learn more about benzodiazepines rehab.)

There are some key differences as well. One is that they have distinct pharmacology or chemical makeup.

Benzos have a benzene hydrocarbon ring fused with a diazepine ring. Most barbiturates come from barbituric acid, an organic compound that must be synthesized to produce the drug.

The way benzos behave in the body is also distinct. They enhance the efficiency of GABA receptors, or proteins found in neuron cell membranes throughout the brain. This diminishes sensitivity to nerve impulses but does not stimulate the receptors.

Barbiturates act directly on GABA receptors. The drugs keep them open while the drug is in effect. This leads to a negative charge and reduced responsiveness to nerve cells.

What this means is that barbiturates have a more pronounced depressive effect. This can lead to slowed breathing and heart rate, as well as profound muscle relaxation. Benzodiazepines vs barbiturates can be less safe because they do not have as direct an impact on the central nervous system.

Learn More About Benzodiazepines vs Barbiturates

Now that you know the difference between benzodiazepines and barbiturates, you can put together a better recovery plan. Each drug has its own set of effects and symptoms, which professional counselors and therapists can help you address.

We hope you found this benzodiazepines vs barbiturates medication comparison helpful. If so, be sure to take a look at some of our other health-related posts, as well as those on fitness, lifestyle, travel, technology, and many other topics.