Tuinal

Tuinal

structure
Combination of
secobarbital	short-acting barbiturate
amobarbital	intermediate-acting barbiturate
Clinical data
Routes of administration	oral

Tuinal was the brand name of a discontinued combination drug composed of two barbiturate salts (secobarbital sodium and amobarbital sodium) in equal proportions.

Tuinal was introduced as a sedative-hypnotic (sleeping pill) medication in the late 1940s by Eli Lilly. It was also used in obstetrics for childbirth.^[1][2] It was produced in brightly colored half-reddish orange and half-turquoise blue gelatin capsule form (bullet-shaped Pulvules) for oral administration. Individual capsules contained 50 mg, 100 mg, or 200 mg of barbiturate salts. The combination of a short-acting barbiturate, Secobarbital, with an intermediate-acting barbiturate, Amobarbital, aimed to provide "a rapid yet prolonged hypnotic action".^[3]

Eli Lilly has discontinued the manufacture of Tuinal in the United States due to the diminishing use of barbiturates (replaced by the

or Amytal (amobarbital). Amytal has been discontinued, though sodium amytal injection form remains.

Abuse

Tuinal saw widespread abuse as a

Abuse of this particular drug tapered off after it was discontinued by manufacturers in the late 1990s.

Tuinal is classified as a Schedule II drug under the Controlled Substances Act in the United States, meaning it requires a prescription from a licensed practitioner.

References

External links

• Dorland's Medical Dictionary: entry for Tuinal
• Drugs.com entry for Tuinal