Veronal

Veronal is the brand name for barbital, a barbiturate originally developed as a sedative and hypnotic. Barbital, or 5,5-diethylbarbituric acid, belongs to the class of barbiturate drugs that act on the central nervous system by enhancing GABA-A receptor–mediated inhibitory neurotransmission. It increases the duration of chloride channel openings in response to GABA, producing sedation, anxiolysis, and sleep. Historically, Veronal was used to treat insomnia and, in some cases, as an anticonvulsant or preanesthetic medication. With the rise of benzodiazepines and other safer agents, its clinical use has declined in many countries due to concerns about dependence, tolerance, withdrawal, and overdose risk.

Pharmacokinetically, barbital is administered orally and yields effects that develop within about an hour and can last several hours, with duration influenced by dose and individual metabolism. It is metabolized in the liver and excreted by the kidneys; active metabolites may contribute to ongoing effects. Safety considerations include the potential for respiratory depression and additive CNS depression when taken with alcohol or other depressants. The risk of dependence and withdrawal limits long-term use. Overdose can be life-threatening, and treatment is primarily supportive, focusing on airway management and supportive care; there is no specific antidote for barbiturate overdose.

Regulatory status varies by country, but Veronal is generally controlled under drug safety and scheduling regulations. The drug is now largely of historical interest in many clinical settings, superseded by safer sleep aids and antiseizure medications.