Abstract
Experiments were performed to provide a quantitative description of the barbiturate withdrawal syndrome. Physical dependence was produced in 63 cats by ‘maximally tolerable’ dosing with sodium pentobarbital. After 5 weeks of chronic treatment each animal was placed in an activity monitoring cage and observed closely for signs of barbiturate abstinence. Electroencephalographic monitoring of sleep—wake cycles was performed in 5 of these cats. Most withdrawal signs appeared on 12–18 h and rapidly intensified. These included signs of neural hyper-excitability that involved motor, autonomic and behavioral function. Data are presented describing the incidence, severity and time course of many withdrawal signs. 26 animals (41%) died during abstinence, usually during or immediately following grand mal type convulsions. The importance of quantitating withdrawal phenomena is discussed with respect to investigation of the requirements for physical dependency production, comparison of different drug dependencies, and pre-clinical evaluation of potential treatments of sedative-hypnotic dependence.
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