On the excess of barbiturates and acid-base balance
There is an excess of barbiturates today, which is related to the acid-base balance of the human body and is quite important.

Excessive barbiturates bear the brunt of affecting the respiratory system. Covering this drug can cause the respiratory center to be suppressed, the respiratory rate to slow down and the depth to become shallow. In this way, the excretion of carbon dioxide is blocked and retained in the body. Carbon dioxide combines with water to form carbonic acid, resulting in an increase in the concentration of carbonic acid in the blood. According to the principle of acid-base balance, an increase in carbonic acid can cause the blood pH to decrease, showing the appearance of acidemia, which is the beginning of respiratory acidosis.

Furthermore, the body has its own compensation mechanism. The kidneys will play their regulatory role when they see this. The renal tubular epithelial cells increase the reabsorption of bicarbonate ions and increase the excretion of hydrogen ions. This is the body's effort to regulate by the kidneys to maintain acid-base balance. However, the ability to compensate is also limited. If the excess of barbiturates is serious and the kidneys cannot compensate, the acid-base imbalance will be difficult to recover.

From a cellular perspective, the ion exchange inside and outside the cell is also affected. In order to buffer the acidity of the extracellular fluid, intracellular potassium ions will escape to the outside of the cell in exchange for hydrogen ions entering the cell. Although this ion exchange process can relieve the acidity of the extracellular fluid for a while, it also raises the risk of increased blood potassium concentration, adding new health risks.

Clinically, urgent treatment is required for acid-base balance disorders caused by excessive barbiturates. The first priority is to improve ventilation, or use a respirator to assist breathing to promote carbon dioxide discharge and relieve respiratory acidosis. At the same time, closely monitor acid-base indicators and electrolytes such as blood potassium, and adjust corresponding drugs if necessary, and strive to restore the body's acid-base balance and the stability of the internal environment.