Users can suffer from wide mood swings, and can feel fear, nausea, and other forms of extreme discomfort. Results can be so severe that complete emotional breakdown can occur. Users go into a remarkable dreamlike state, with heightened sensations and a feeling of unreality. They run the risk of suffering emotional breakdowns. Usually swallowed in pill or capsule form, barbiturates calm tensions and relieve anxiety, so they can quickly lead to dependency.
Heavy doses can impair judgment, cause drowsiness and confusion, and noticeably slur speech.
People with barbiturate dependency should only attempt withdrawal under a doctor s care. Withdrawal from barbiturates can be even more dangerous than withdrawal from heroin. Overdoses can result in death, and the risk is greatly increased when barbiturates are taken with alcohol. Quaaludes produce drowsiness and interfere with mental processes and coordination. Overdoses can lead to unconsciousness, lung and heart failure, and death.