Tag: Seconal

Once widely abused for their sedating effects in the mid-20th century, the street drug called Reds is the barbiturate secobarbital, most commonly known by its brand name, Seconal. Historically packaged in bright red bullet-shaped capsules, 'reds' were largely replaced by benzodiazepines in clinical practice due to their extremely high potential for fatal overdose and severe, life-threatening withdrawal symptoms.

Originally patented in 1934 and once a widely used sedative, Seconal (secobarbital) is no longer prescribed for general medical use in the United States, with the brand-name product officially discontinued in 2022. This shift reflects a major evolution in pharmacology, prioritizing safer treatments over the high addiction and overdose risks associated with older barbiturate drugs.

While both Ambien (zolpidem) and Seconal (secobarbital) are used as sedative-hypnotics, they belong to fundamentally different drug classes, with Seconal's brand name no longer available in the U.S. due to its higher risk profile. A critical comparison reveals significant differences in their pharmacology, safety, and potential for dependence.

Seconal (secobarbital), a once-common barbiturate used for insomnia and as a pre-operative sedative, was largely discontinued in the U.S. and has since been replaced by newer, safer medications due to its high potential for abuse and fatal overdose.