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Clinically Reviewed by Dr. Olalekan Otulana (Advanced Practitioner)
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Last Reviewed: 4th December 2023
Amytal was developed during World War II to treat psychiatric problems experienced by American soldiers following combat duties, and during the 1990s, Amytal was famously advertised as a ‘truth serum’.
Amytal is a type of barbiturate which is normally prescribed as either a sedative, anti-anxiety medication, or a pre-anaesthetic drug before surgery; however, the drug is highly addictive if used for long periods of time.
Patients commonly develop an addiction to Amytal when using the drug to combat sleeping disorders or long-lasting issues.
Get In TouchAre you suffering from an Amytal Addiction and need help? If so, Cassiobury Court are leading UK based experts in Drug Addiction Treatments. Find out how we can help by getting in touch with our friendly team today. You can either call our confidential helpline or request a callback by clicking on the below form.
In the United Kingdom doctors are prohibited from prescribing Amytal to clients not already taking barbiturates.
Amytal is a drug which is typically injected or consumed as a tablet. Amobarbital sodium is the active addictive substance contained within Amytal and is typically found as an odourless, white powder but can also come in tablet or pill form.
When ‘high’ on Amytal, addicts describe the feeling as similar to being drunk. Amytal can only be administered legally by a doctor, but it can also be bought illegally as it is a powerful and potentially lethal drug.
It’s a central nervous system depressant which can help people who need to sleep or relax and is primarily administered by a doctor in shot form.
Once in the bloodstream Amytal travels to sensors in the brain. A neurotransmitter known as GABA is released making the user feel relaxed.
Amytal addiction is a neurological, chronic disease which can be caused by many factors including psychological wellbeing and environment, all of which influence how severely the drug addiction manifests.
Addiction to Amytal is often inevitable if you abuse it by taking more than prescribed, consuming the medication for longer than recommended, or taking Amytal when not needed.
It’s important to remember that drug addiction is simply a natural biological response to your body trying to adapt to the drug.
Once a tolerance to Amytal arises and addicts take a greater quantity of the drug to feel ‘high’, a physical as well as a psychological dependency to the drug arises.
Like many other drugs, Amytal can have some adverse side effects, such as: depression, anxiety, allergic reaction, trouble breathing, constipation, nausea and vomiting, dizziness, sleepiness, confusion, nervousness, irritation, tissue damage, and insomnia.
Because of its addictive potential, Amytal is intended to be used as a short-term solution, particularly because it appears to lose its effectiveness in inducing sleep after two weeks of use.
If you were to leave Amytal addiction untreated, it will only worsen over time, potentially leaving you with life-changing damage.
You must speak out and seek help from a professional rehabilitation centre immediately if you truly want to achieve your long-term recovery from drug addiction.
Our Amytal detoxification programme takes place in our residential rehabilitation centre on the outskirts of London under the full supervision of our drug addiction team. 
Withdrawal symptoms arise between ten to twelve hours after Amytal was last consumed and will stay until the drug is no longer in your system and your body has readjusted to normal levels.
Withdrawal symptoms are an inevitable part of an Amytal detox and can be quite painful meaning addicts who attempt withdrawal from home are likely to fail in their effects.
Choosing to go ‘cold turkey’ with detox is generally avoided as this can put you at extreme risk of physical and psychological damage.
Instead, our medical team implement controlled and tapered Amytal detoxification where consumption of the drug is gradually reduced over several days.
Amytal withdrawal symptoms can include tremors, anxiety, blurred or distorted vision, headaches, high blood pressure, dizziness, nausea, convulsions, and delirium; in some extreme cases, withdrawal symptoms could also include seizures and psychosis.
Symptoms reduce upon the fifth day following the last day of drug consumption. Home-based detox without medical assistance is not recommended due to the dangers of detox.
Our Amytal detoxification programme takes place in an environment where clients receive 24 hours a day medical assistance. Five nutritious meals are provided throughout the day to aid with your long-term recovery.
Drugs such as phenobarbital may be offered to prevent seizures. Once you’ve successfully completed an Amytal addiction detox, you will be feeling cleansed and ready to check into a residential drug rehabilitation centre to continue your journey to long-term recovery with addiction therapies.
Residential rehab is the best place to receive addiction treatment for prescription drugs such as Amytal, as clients are surrounded by constant support and medical professionals who can help.
Overcoming a drug addiction alone can be daunting and extremely difficult, which is why the 24/7 presence of medical staff, recovery workers and peers is so beneficial.
If you are hoping to overcome addiction to Amytal, private drug and alcohol rehab is the best place to do it.
Medically assisted detox and addiction therapy programmes are the greatest way to overcome addiction.
Following the Amytal detox, clients then receive therapy sessions and proven addiction treatments to target the psychological aspects of Amytal addiction.
Therapies such as cognitive behavioural therapy, group therapy and holistic therapies are employed so clients understand the link between thoughts, emotions, and behaviours.
Patients imagine and enact scenarios which give rise to addictive behaviour and are provided with relapse prevention techniques to help once the rehab programme is over.
Addictive behaviours are something that can be difficult to overcome, which is why the support and guidance that are provided in residential rehab are so important.
Patients are taught to avoid ‘addiction triggers’. Powerful coping strategies are developed so relapse does not occur once clients leave our rehabilitation centre.
Recovery from Amytal addiction is a lifelong process and getting through those first few months is difficult.
To assist with the recovery journey after rehab, we provide clients with a year-long aftercare service completely free of charge, inclusive of dedicated helplines should clients feel at risk of a relapse or require advice.
We also recommend clients seek local support networks after rehab such as Narcotics Anonymous where you can share your experiences with others who are in a similar situation to you.
The team at Cassiobury Court want to help you get better, which is why we encourage our clients to join local Narcotics Anonymous groups in their area upon leaving our rehabilitation centre.
If you wish to learn more about Cassiobury Court’s Amytal detoxification and rehabilitation programme, call our centre today. Cassiobury Court is a drug and alcohol rehabilitation centre located in Watford, London.
You can learn more about our drug rehab programme by calling a member of our team. Contact us today on 0800 001 4070. Alternatively, you can text HELP to 83222 or email info@cassioburycourt.com.
