Barbiturate (noun)

A type of drug that acts as a sedative and hypnotic, often used to treat anxiety and insomnia. They are called barbiturates because they are derivatives of barbituric acid.

Origin:

The word "barbiturate" is derived from the name of the german chemist fritz hofmann who synthesized the first barbituric acid in 1864, which is the basis of this class of drugs.

Examples:

1. He was prescribed a barbiturate to help him sleep.
2. Barbiturates are highly addictive and should only be used under medical supervision.
3. The use of barbiturates as a sleeping aid has decreased due to their potential for overdose and addiction.
4. Barbiturates were once commonly used as tranquilizers, but have been largely replaced by benzodiazepines.
5. Barbiturates have a narrow therapeutic index, meaning the difference between a therapeutic dose and a toxic dose is small.