Amobarbital was first made in Germany in 1923, and it was considered an intermediate-acting barbiturate. It appears as a white, crystalline powder, and it does not have an odor. It does have a bitter taste.

The drug was once made by a company called Eli Lilly and Company and it was sold as bright blue capsules. This was the company that marketed the drug as Amytal. But because of the risk of physical and psychological dependence and addiction, they discontinued it in the early 1980s.

During World War II, Amytal was frequently used to treat U.S. soldiers who suffered from shell shock. The claim was that it would help them return to the line of duty faster. People who took it suffered as a result of its powerful sedation and cognitive impairment side effects. Their overall effectiveness was greatly reduced, and so, the government decided to discontinue its use.

When Amytal is taken via IV, it has the ability to act as a type of “truth serum.” This means that when people use it in that way, it causes them to provide information that they might not provide otherwise. The drug can also result in people divulging blocked information that they did not realize they knew.

Amytal has the ability to work this way because of how it lowers inhibitions. A man by the name of Dr. William Bleckwenn at the University of Wisconsin first used the drug in this way to treat some of his psychiatric patients.

When used properly, it is easy to see how Amytal could be effective at treating people with issues like PTSD. But there is one problem. The drug can also be used to coerce individuals into forming false memories about specific events. Because of that, the drug lost its credibility.

Amytal was once used to treat conditions like insomnia, epilepsy and anxiety. But because the capsules were discontinued, doctors turn to other medications to help people with these issues.

This medication is still used today, but not as frequently as it once was. Some doctors may use it as a preanesthetic prior to surgery. This is effective because it induces sleep and can impact short-term memory. But because there are newer drugs on the market, Amytal is not used as frequently today as it once was?

A drug that is as powerful as Amytal is likely to have a long list of side effects, and this one does. Some of the more common side effects of it include:

• Nausea and vomiting
• Feeling sleepy
• Feeling confused
• Anxiety or nervousness
• Insomnia
• Headaches
• Constipation
• Low blood pressure
• Fainting spells
• Muscle spasms
• Loss of coordination
• Reactions at the injection site
• Hallucinations
• Problems with thinking
• Slower breathing rate
• Slower heart rate

Some of these side effects are very serious, but that is not always enough to deter people from using Amytal. Those who use the drug recreationally may find that their side effects are much more pronounced.

The most common way that Amytal is abused today is by injecting it because it can only be found in IV form. But there are drug dealers who may try to sell it in other ways. Some may make the medication into capsules on their own. Users may also boil the liquid down so that it condenses into an even more potent form.

While Amytal is powerful enough on its own, another way people typically abuse it is by mixing it with other drugs. We will talk more about that in just a moment. But it is not uncommon for people to use this drug as a way to “come down” after using a stimulant drug like cocaine or meth.

Users on the website, Reddit, often post questions about barbiturates and how they compare to benzodiazepines. Others are very eager to answer their questions by describing what they experienced when they were high. They claim that:

• Barbiturates cause more of a drug feeling than benzos.
• The relaxation effect is much more pronounced.
• They had an intense euphoric sensation.
• They felt excessively dizzy.
• A long feeling of sedation that can last up to 12 hours.

And of course, there is a significant reduction in inhibition when taking Amytal or any other barbiturate. It is clear that the high people experience from this and other, similar drugs is what keeps them using it. It can be a very difficult habit to break, but it can be done.

Some experts believe that the number of teenagers using and getting addicted to barbiturates is increasing. This could be because of the difficulty in obtaining opioids or other drugs for people their age. But because of this increase, it makes sense that more parents are learning that their teens are using Amytal. It is so important to know the signs.

Some of the signs of Amytal abuse include:

• Appearing drowsy and intoxicated.
• Losing one’s inhibitions.
• Slurred speech.
• Significant confusion.
• Losing interest in hobbies that were once enjoyed.

Abusing Amytal is very dangerous, and there is a very slight difference between a “euphoric” dose and a deadly one. Any parent who suspects their child is abusing this drug, or any other barbiturate, should certainly reach out for help.

Alcohol is often the go-to choice when people are interested in enhancing a drug’s high. The same is true for those who use Amytal to get high.

Both alcohol and Amytal are central nervous system depressants. Taking them together can cause significant breathing problems. The combination can also slow down the heart rate to dangerous levels. In some cases, it is even possible for the heart and lungs to stop functioning altogether.

There have also been instances when people took both of these drugs together and suffered from alcohol poisoning as a result. This occurs because the Amytal may dull the effects of alcohol, which leads people to drink more.

Like alcohol, marijuana is also considered to be a depressant drug because of how it relaxes the body. When it is combined with a sedative drug like Amytal, it produces an additive effect, according to Leafly. While it does not work by potentiating barbiturates when they are used together, it can still lead to serious risks. It is one combination that should be avoided at all costs.

Benzos were developed because of the risks involved with continuing to prescribe barbiturates. For that reason, it makes sense to assume that these two drugs should never be combined. Still, people do use them together, which can result in serious consequences.

There is a very serious and very high risk of overdosing if someone combines benzodiazepines with Amytal.

According to a study led by Dr. Renu Garg, people who are prescribed both sedating drugs and opioids are six times more likely to die of an overdose. Most doctors know the risks of prescribing these types of drugs together, and so, they avoid it at all costs. But there are people who abuse Amytal recreationally that may try the combination to enhance their high.

Scientists began researching the effects of mixing barbiturates with stimulants decades ago. As we mentioned earlier, this might be an attractive combination because the two drugs counteract each other. But the reality is that taking these two types of medications together can be very dangerous.

There are serious risks to combining two drugs that do two different things in the body. Too much of either one can cause the organs in the body to shut down. There may also be brain damage as a result.

When it was prescribed, doctors cautioned their patients not to take Amytal for longer than 30 days. That was because of its addictive nature. Today, those who abuse it – even in the short-term – are likely to experience some serious effects as a result.

The short-term effects of Amytal include:

• Relieving insomnia
• Relieving anxiety
• A sensation of euphoria
• Extreme relaxation and sedation
• Lethargy and unconsciousness

Once a person starts taking Amytal, it can be very difficult to stop. Taking this drug long-term has never recommended and for good reason. It carries a long list of risks and dangerous long-term side effects, such as:

• Insomnia
• Becoming more sensitive to pain and sound
• Increased sweating
• Becoming paranoid
• Having hallucinations
• Developing paranoia
• Problems with memory and attention
• Emotional issues
• Becoming suicidal

In higher doses, this drug can become even more dangerous, and those risks increase with long-term use. It is possible to suffer from serious brain and organ damage, or even death because of respiratory depression. Many people end up using so much that they fall into a coma when they overdose.

Because it does not always take long for an Amytal addiction to form, it is important to know the signs. The following are all signs that a person has gotten addicted to barbiturates:

• Tremors
• Slurred speech
• Frequent headaches
• Impaired coordination
• Dizziness and drowsiness

There are other behavioral signs that also indicate that an addiction has formed as well. They include:

• Noticing an increased drug tolerance (it takes more of the drug to feel the effects of it).
• Taking larger doses than the doctor recommended.
• Taking Amytal without a prescription.
• Doctor shopping as a way to get multiple prescriptions.
• Going through withdrawal when not on the drug.
• Attempting to quit without success.
• Keeping one’s drug use a secret from others.