Bottle for 'Veronal' powder
‘Veronal’ is the trade name for a barbiturate drug used to treat mental illness. ‘Veronal’ was the first commercially available barbiturate, sold from 1903 onwards, and was named after the Italian city of Verona. Barbiturates were used to induce sleep by suppressing brain function and were also used as a hypnotic. They were popular up to the 1950s and were an improvement on their predecessors as the side effects were less severe – although unfortunately they could be extremely addictive. Barbiturates are only available on prescription.
Object number:
A600181
Related Themes and Topics
Glossary:
Glossary: controlled drug
Substances that are controlled under the Misuse of Drugs Act 1971 (UK). These drugs are classified according to the amount of harm they cause when misused.
Glossary: barbiturate
A group of drugs that reduce the activity of the central nervous system. They were used as sedatives or tranquillisers but have been replaced in clinical use now as they were found to be addictive.
Glossary: psychotropic drug
A term used to describe drugs that affect mood and the mind.
Glossary: drug
Any animal, vegetable, or mineral substance used in the composition of medicines. They affect the structure or function of a living organism.