Butabarbital

BUTISOL

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Pronunciation: byoo-ta-BAR-bi-tal

Butabarbital ballicule: receptor binding, kinetics and half-life diagram — Mechanism of action: Butabarbital ballicule

Butabarbital BUTISOL mascot mnemonic cartoon — Visual mnemonic: Butabarbital mascot
**“Butter barb”**

What it isIntermediate-acting barbiturate sedative-hypnotic acting as a GABA-A positive allosteric modulator.

Why this oneOne of the last oral barbiturate hypnotics on the US market; nearly all others have been retired.

What limits itTolerance develops within weeks, withdrawal can be life-threatening, and CYP induction plus a narrow therapeutic index make it a poor choice against modern hypnotics.

Butabarbital molecular structure (skeletal formula) — Molecular structure: Butabarbital

Butabarbital prescription history

Animated chart of estimated U.S. prescriptions per year, Sleep meds (1869–2026). Butabarbital enters in 1932 (estimated).

FDA-approved for

sedative-hypnotic

NO BOXED WARNINGS

Classes and tags

Schedule III controlled substances

Clinical profile

Therapeutic safety burden3 / 4

Sedation liability3 / 4

Direct muscarinic antagonism0 / 4

Embryofetal risk3 / 4

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Self-check

How quickly does butabarbital tolerance develop?
Within weeks.
How severe can butabarbital withdrawal be?
Life-threatening.