第一種巴比妥類藥物是巴比妥 ，由德國化學家赫爾曼·埃米爾·費雪和約瑟夫·馮·梅林（英语：Joseph von Mering）於1902年合成，並首先由拜耳以品牌名稱Veronal上市。到1904年，費雪又合成幾種相關藥物，包括苯巴比妥。苯巴比妥於1912年由拜耳以品牌名稱Luminal上市。在1960年代苯二氮平類藥物問世之前，它一直是一種常用的鎮靜劑和催眠藥。[46]
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^11.011.1Thomas WB. Seizures and narcolepsy. Dewey CW (编). A Practical Guide to Canine and Feline Neurology. Ames, Iowa: Iowa State Press. 2003.ISBN 978-0-8138-1249-6.
^World Health Organization. The selection and use of essential medicines 2023: web annex A: World Health Organization model list of essential medicines: 23rd list (2023). Geneva: World Health Organization. 2023.hdl:10665/371090. WHO/MHP/HPS/EML/2023.02.
^Nolan SJ, Tudur Smith C, Pulman J, Marson AG. Phenobarbitone versus phenytoin monotherapy for partial onset seizures and generalised onset tonic-clonic seizures. The Cochrane Database of Systematic Reviews. January 2013, (1).PMID 23440786.doi:10.1002/14651858.CD002217.pub2.已忽略未知参数|article-number= (帮助)
^Xu ZE, Li WB, Qiao MY, Cui HT, Zhao LZ, Chen QX, Miao JK. Comparative efficacy of anti-epileptic drugs for neonatal seizures: A network meta-analysis. Pediatrics and Neonatology. November 2021,62 (6): 598–605.PMID 34389261.S2CID 237010210.doi:10.1016/j.pedneo.2021.06.005.
^Kasper D. Harrison's Principles of Internal Medicine 19th. Mc Graw Hill. 2015-04-08: 2002.ISBN 978-0-07-180215-4.Bilirubin concentrations during phenobarbital administration do not return to normal but are typically in the range of 51-86 µmol/L (3-5 mg/dL). Although the incidence of kernicterus in CN-II is low, instances have occurred, not only in infants but also in adolescents and adults, often in the setting of an intercurrent illness, fasting, or another factor that temporarily raises the serum bilirubin concentration above baseline and reduces serum albumin levels. For this reason, phenobarbital therapy is highly recommended, a single bedtime dose often suffices to maintain clinically safe serum bilirubin concentrations.
^López-Muñoz F, Ucha-Udabe R, Alamo C.The history of barbiturates a century after their clinical introduction. Neuropsychiatric Disease and Treatment. December 2005,1 (4): 329–343.PMC 2424120.PMID 18568113.Despite their widespread use during the first half of the 20th century, no barbiturate succeeded in eliminating the main drawbacks of these drugs, which were the phenomena of dependence and death by overdose
^Löscher W, Rogawski MA. How theories evolved concerning the mechanism of action of barbiturates. Epilepsia. December 2012,. 53 Suppl 8 (s8): 12–25.PMID 23205959.doi:10.1111/epi.12025.
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^Zoech I.Named: the baby boy who was Nazis' first euthanasia victim. The Telegraph. 2003-10-12 [2013-11-01]. （原始内容存档于2013-12-16）.The case was to provide the rationale for a secret Nazi decree that led to 'mercy killings' of almost 300,000 mentally and physically handicapped people. The Kretschmars wanted their son dead but most of the other children were forcibly taken from their parents to be killed.
^Smith WJ.Killing Babies, Compassionately. Weekly Standard. 2006-03-26 [2013-11-12]. （原始内容存档于2013-11-03）.Hitler later signed a secret decree permitting the euthanasia of disabled infants. Sympathetic physicians and nurses from around the country--many not even Nazi party members--cooperated in the horror that followed. Formal 'protective guidelines' were created, including the creation of a panel of 'expert referees,' which judged which infants were eligible for the program.
^Kaelber L.Jewish Children with Disabilities and Nazi "Euthanasia" Crimes(PDF). The Bulletin of the Carolyn and Leonard Miller Center for Holocaust Studies. University of Vermont. Spring 2013 [2013-11-01]. （原始内容存档(PDF)于3 November 2013）.Two Polish physicians reported at the time that 235 children from ages up to 14 were listed in the booklet, of whom 221 had died. An investigation revealed that the medical records of the children had been falsified, as those records showed a far lower dosage of Luminal given to them than was entered into the Luminal booklet. For example, the medical records for Marianna N. showed for 16 January 1943 (she died on that day) a dosage of 0.1 g of Luminal, whereas the Luminal booklet showed the actual dosage as 0.4 g, or four times the dosage recommended for her body weight.
^López-Muñoz F, Alamo C, García-García P, Molina JD, Rubio G. The role of psychopharmacology in the medical abuses of the Third Reich: from euthanasia programmes to human experimentation. Brain Research Bulletin. December 2008,77 (6): 388–403.PMID 18848972.S2CID 39858807.doi:10.1016/j.brainresbull.2008.09.002.
^Pepling RS.Phenobarbital. Chemical and Engineering News. June 2005,83 (25) [2006-09-06]. （原始内容存档于2005-11-26）.
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.PMID 23284189.doi:10.2471/BLT.12.113183. 
. Lippincott Williams & Wilkins. 2009:277.ISBN 978-0-7817-6587-9（英语）. 含有內容需登入查看的頁面 (link)