Pentobarbital sodium

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.