Amytal Detox and Withdrawal

Amytal Sodium is a brand name for amobarbital, and it is currently the only brand name for this drug. It is a barbiturate with hypnotic and sedative properties that make it useful for treating certain medical conditions. Amytal also has the potential for dependence and addiction in regular users, which may require treatment in an Amytal detox center. Call us at to learn more about these detox centers.

Medical Uses

The United States Food and Drug Administration has approved Amytal for the treatment of insomnia, anxiety and epilepsy. It is also an effective surgical anesthetic in higher doses. Amytal is used to sedate each hemisphere of the brain so that a physician may assess the function of the other hemisphere. This procedure is known as the Wada test.

Unapproved medical uses for Amytal include reducing the inhibitions of psychiatric patients during a therapy session. This use has earned Amytal the reputation of being a “truth serum,” although this term greatly exaggerates Amytal’s effectiveness for this purpose. Amytal has also been used in the past as a treatment for post-traumatic stress disorder.

Therapeutic dosages of Amytal depend greatly upon its specific purpose. A treatment for anxiety typically uses Amytal in the range of 15 to 50 mg. Insomnia treatments use Amytal dosages from 75 and 150 mg, and epilepsy treatments with Amytal use dosages between 200 and 500 mg. The use of Amytal as an anesthetic typically exceeds 500 mg per dose. Recreational users also use dosages above this level, although this level of usage may require treatment in an Amytal detox center.

Amytal’s potential for abuse places tight restrictions on its use. Physicians may not prescribe this drug to patients with a history of barbiturate abuse. It is also contraindicated for patients who are currently using drugs such as morphine, insulin and hydrocortisone. Medical conditions such as liver diseases also contraindicate the use of Amytal.

Addiction

Patients in an Amytal detox center often exhibit behavior indicating addiction. The signs of addiction include the following:

• Extreme drowsiness
• Asking the attending physician to increase their dosage of Amytal
• Lying about Amytal use
• Willingness to steal Amytal

High doses of Amytal also cause a euphoric effect, which is the primary reason for its addictive potential. This may be replaced by suicidal ideation after the initial effects of the drug wear off. Find out more about Amytal withdrawal treatment facilities by calling us at .

Treatment

Amytal users can experience withdrawal symptoms when they suddenly stop taking this drug. The withdrawal symptoms for Amytal include the following:

• Aggressive behavior
• Hot flashes
• Irritability
• Nausea
• Headaches

“A detox program usually takes place on an inpatient basis in a residential treatment center.”A detox program usually takes place on an inpatient basis in a residential treatment center. This program typically involves reducing the patient’s dosage of Amytal gradually to minimize the severity of the withdrawal symptoms. The physician may also substitute Amytal with other drugs that last longer but are less powerful. The detox phase of the treatment can require up to 10 days.

The intake form at an Amytal withdrawal treatment facility contains many personal questions regarding the patient’s drug use. The purpose of these questions is to determine the best course of treatment for each patient. These questions commonly include the following:

• Do you consider yourself to be addicted to Amytal?
• How many Amytal pills do you take per day?
• How long have you been using Amytal?
• Do you drink alcohol when you take Amytal?

Patients typically enter an addiction treatment program after they complete the detox phase of their treatment. This consists primarily of therapy sessions, although the specific program varies according to the facility. Many of these centers use a 12-step program.