Definition

Noun: A short-acting barbiturate drug, chemically the sodium salt of secobarbital. It is a central nervous system depressant used medically for sedation and to control convulsions. It is typically a white, odorless, slightly bitter powder.

Usage

• Medical Context: Used as a sedative or anticonvulsant medication.
  • The doctor prescribed secobarbital sodium for preoperative sedation.
  • In emergency settings, secobarbital sodium can be administered to treat severe convulsions.

Advanced Usage

• Historical/Technical Context: While its medical use has declined due to safety concerns and newer alternatives, it is still recognized in pharmacological texts.
  • Secobarbital sodium, once commonly marketed under the brand name Seconal, is now a controlled substance.

Variants and Related Words

• Secobarbital: The parent acid form of the drug.
• Seconal: A former common brand name for secobarbital sodium.
• Barbiturate: The class of drugs to which secobarbital sodium belongs.

Synonyms

• Sedative: (a general term for a calming agent)
• Hypnotic: (a substance that induces sleep)
• Anticonvulsant: (a substance that prevents or reduces seizures)

Notes

• This term is highly specific to pharmacology and medicine. It is not used in everyday conversation.
• Secobarbital sodium is a controlled substance in many countries due to its potential for abuse, dependence, and overdose.

Noun

1. barbiturate that is a white odorless slightly bitter powder (trade name Seconal) used as a sodium salt for sedation and to treat convulsions