Medically reviewed by Drugs.com. Last updated on Apr 30, 2022.
Commonly used brand name(s)
In the U.S.
- Butisol Sodium
Available Dosage Forms:
- Tablet
Therapeutic Class: Sedative
Pharmacologic Class: Butabarbital
Uses for butabarbital
Butabarbital is used to treat insomnia (trouble sleeping). It is also used before a surgical procedure to make a person sleep (be unconscious).
Butabarbital belongs to the group of medicines called barbiturates. They act in the central nervous system (CNS) to slow down the nervous system. When used to treat insomnia, butabarbital will help you get to sleep faster and sleep throughout the night. In most cases, sleep medicines should only be used for short periods of time, such as 1 or 2 days, and for no longer than 1 or 2 weeks.
Butabarbital is available only with your doctor's prescription.
Before using butabarbital
In deciding to use a medicine, the risks of taking the medicine must be weighed against the good it will do. This is a decision you and your doctor will make. For butabarbital, the following should be considered:
Allergies
Tell your doctor if you have ever had any unusual or allergic reaction to butabarbital or any other medicines. Also tell your health care professional if you have any other types of allergies, such as to foods, dyes, preservatives, or animals. For non-prescription products, read the label or package ingredients carefully.
Pediatric
Appropriate studies to date have not demonstrated pediatric-specific problems that would limit the usefulness of butabarbital in children when used before a surgical procedure. However, safety and efficacy have not been established in children to treat insomnia.
Geriatric
Appropriate studies performed to date have not demonstrated geriatric-specific problems that would limit the usefulness of butabarbital in the elderly. However, elderly patients are more sensitive to the effects of butabarbital and are more likely to have age-related liver or kidney problems, which may require caution and an adjustment in the dose for patients receiving butabarbital.
Breastfeeding
There are no adequate studies in women for determining infant risk when using t...
