SLEEPING PILLS: BARBITURATES
Barbiturates were manufactured in 1912 and were used extensively for the next 60 years as a tranquillizer to calm the anxious. In a moderate dose they can be used as a hypnotic for sleeping. In an even higher dose they can be used in general anaesthesia, knocking people out completely for surgical operation.
After many years it became apparent that a lot of people abused barbiturates, becoming addicted to them, There were serious withdrawal symptoms. People who were on high doses of these pills could not stop taking them and needed a higher and higher dose to have the same desirable effect. People who were on high doses for a long time and stopped suddenly experienced serious withdrawal symptoms. Not only could they not sleep, but also they could go into convulsion and could even develop temporary psychotic illness. These pills have a narrow safety margin, and people have overdosed either accidentally or on purpose. Remember the sad cases of Marilyn Monroe and Elvis Presley?
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