Barbituric acid, the precursor of barbiturates, was first produced
in 1864 by condensation of malonic acid and urea; it had no
central nervous system (CNS) effects. In 1903, diethyl barbituric
acid (barbital) was created as the first barbiturate with
CNS inhibitory effects. Barbiturates were commonly used as
sedative-hypnotics in the mid-twentieth century; meantime
they were abused by some people as sold on the street. Use of
barbiturates quickly dropped after introduction of benzodiazepines
as the safer sedative-hypnotics. However some of the
barbiturates are still used as anticonvulsants and some for
euthanasia.
