Barbiturates are synthetic drugs which depress the central nervous system.
These depressants are used medically to relieve high blood pressure, as sedatives, and to treat epilepsy. They are also used to relax patients before and during surgery. Sources include phenobarbital, pentobarbital, secobarbital, and amobarbital. Common slang names include barbs, yellow jackets, blue heavens, red devils, goof balls, blurs, and candy. Barbiturates are usually taken as pills or capsules.