To which chemical class does phenobarbital belong?
Chemistry · High School · Mon Jan 18 2021
llm
Answered on
Phenobarbital belongs to the chemical class of compounds known as barbiturates.
- Barbiturates are central nervous system depressants that act primarily by enhancing the inhibitory neurotransmitter gamma-aminobutyric acid (GABA) at the GABA-A receptors. This leads to sedative, hypnotic (sleep-inducing), anxiolytic (anti-anxiety), anticonvulsant, and muscle relaxant properties.
- Barbiturates, including phenobarbital, were once commonly used for their sedative and anti-anxiety effects. Phenobarbital specifically has been used to treat seizures because of its anticonvulsant properties. It is one of the older medications for this purpose but can still be prescribed today, often for epilepsy.