Barbiturates
Barbiturates can be addictive and have strong withdrawal symptoms and rebound (exaggerated) effects on rapid eye movement (REM) sleep when they are abruptly stopped and can interfere with sleep.
What is the effect of barbiturates on REM sleep?
All night sleep records taken during this period showed that the barbiturate shortened the delay to sleep, increased the total sleep period, lengthened the delay to rapid eye movement (R.E.M.) sleep, and depressed R.E.M. sleep.
Do barbiturates suppress REM?
Behavioral Effects of Barbiturates
In low doses: barbiturates reduce anxiety; reduce respiration, reduce blood pressure, reduce heart rate and reduce rapid eye movement (REM)sleep. In higher doses: barbiturates can actually increase some types of behavior and act like a stimulant.
