Barbiturates are sedative-hypnotics that act at GABA-A receptors, distinct from but related to benzodiazepines, and located predominantly in the reticular activating system. They potentiate GABA-mediated chloride flux by binding the alpha and beta receptor subunits and increasing the duration of channel opening, whereas benzodiazepines increase the frequency of opening via the gamma subunit; barbiturates may also antagonize glutamic acid and are not reversed by flumazenil, which acts only at the benzodiazepine binding site. This mechanism places barbiturates within pharmacology of the GABAergic system and CNS sedative-hypnotic drug class.
Barbiturates are sedative-hypnotics that act at GABA-A receptors, distinct from but related to benzodiazepines, and located predominantly in the reticular activating system. They potentiate GABA-medi…