A common synonym for Barbiturates is Sleeping Pills.  Some street names that are used for Barbiturates include Barbs or Downers. Barbiturates are commonly divided into groups based on the onset and duration of their action. The intermediate and short-acting barbiturates are the categories most commonly abused, most notably Seconal (secobarbital) and Tuinal (secobarbital with amobarbital).

Long-acting barbiturates have an onset of action of 30 to 60 minutes and a duration of action of 6 to 8 hours. Examples of long-acting barbiturates are phenobarbital and barbital. Their slow onset of action discourages their abuse. The intermediate-acting barbiturates have an onset of action of 15 to 30 minutes and a duration of action of 4 to 6 hours. Examples of intermediate-acting barbiturates are amobarbital, butabarbital, and Tuinal.

The short-acting barbiturates have an onset of action of 10 to 15 minutes and have a duration of action of 2 to 4 hours. Examples of short-acting barbiturates are secobarbital and pentobarbital. The ultra-short-acting barbiturates have an onset of action of 0 to 45 seconds and a duration of action 15 minutes to 3 hours. These are barbiturates used as anesthetics. Their effects are generally felt within one minute of intravenous administration. Examples of ultra short-acting barbiturates are thiopenthal sodium, hexobarbital, and methohexital. The rapid onset and brief duration of action practically precludes the use of ultra-short-acting barbiturates in the street environment. Concern about the addiction potential of barbiturates and the ever-increasing numbers of fatalities associated with them led to the development of alternative medications. Barbiturates can be detected in urine drug testing from 2 to 10 days. Depending on usage.