Comprehensive medication guide to Butabarbital including estimated pricing, availability information, side effects, and how to find it in stock at your local pharmacy.
Estimated Insurance Pricing
Butabarbital is not covered by insurance because it has been commercially discontinued. Compounded versions are also typically not covered. Patients may use HSA or FSA funds to pay for compounded prescriptions with pre-tax dollars.
Estimated Cash Pricing
$50–$150 out of pocket for a 30-day supply from a compounding pharmacy; pricing varies by pharmacy and formulation. No commercial generic is available. Standard pharmacy discount cards (GoodRx, SingleCare) do not apply to compounded medications.
Medfinder Findability Score
8/100
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Butabarbital (brand name Butisol Sodium, also known as secbutabarbital) is a prescription barbiturate medication classified as a central nervous system (CNS) depressant. It was FDA-approved for the short-term treatment of insomnia, daytime anxiety and sedation, and as a pre-surgical sedative. Butabarbital is a DEA Schedule III controlled substance due to its moderate-to-high potential for physical and psychological dependence.
Butabarbital has been commercially discontinued in the United States. Both the brand-name Butisol Sodium and all generic versions are no longer manufactured for commercial sale. The FDA confirmed in October 2020 that this withdrawal was not for safety or effectiveness reasons. As of 2026, Butabarbital is only available through licensed compounding pharmacies with a valid prescription.
Compared to other barbiturates, Butabarbital is intermediate-acting with an unusually long half-life of approximately 100 hours. This means effects last 6–8 hours after a dose, but the drug accumulates with repeated use and takes weeks to fully clear from the body.
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Butabarbital works as a non-selective CNS depressant by binding to GABA-A receptors in the brain. GABA (gamma-aminobutyric acid) is the primary inhibitory neurotransmitter in the nervous system — it slows brain activity. Butabarbital binds to a specific site on the GABA-A receptor associated with chloride ion channels, causing the channel to remain open longer than it normally would.
This prolonged channel opening allows more negatively charged chloride ions to enter the neuron, making it less likely to fire. The result is broad inhibition of CNS activity — producing sedation at lower doses and sleep at higher doses. Butabarbital also interferes with the transmission of nerve signals from the thalamus to the cortex, dampening the brain's arousal system.
Butabarbital is also a potent inducer of CYP liver enzymes (CYP1A2, CYP2C9/10, CYP3A4), which means it accelerates the breakdown of many other medications — including warfarin, oral contraceptives, beta-blockers, and corticosteroids. This enzyme induction is a major source of clinically significant drug interactions.
30 mg — tablet
Daytime sedation: 15–30 mg 3–4 times daily. Compounded formulation only (brand discontinued).
50 mg — tablet
Bedtime hypnotic: 50–100 mg at bedtime. Preoperative: 50–100 mg 60–90 min before surgery. Compounded formulation only.
30 mg/5 mL — oral solution
Oral solution with 7% alcohol. Alternative to tablets for patients who cannot swallow pills. Compounded formulation only.
Butabarbital is extremely difficult to find in 2026 — not because of a temporary shortage, but because it has been permanently discontinued from commercial manufacturing in the United States. Standard retail pharmacies (CVS, Walgreens, Rite Aid, Walmart, and others) cannot order or stock it. It does not appear in their ordering systems because it is not being produced for commercial sale.
The only source for Butabarbital in 2026 is a licensed compounding pharmacy, which can prepare it from raw pharmaceutical-grade butabarbital sodium API. Not all compounding pharmacies carry this ingredient, and fewer still are licensed for Schedule III controlled substance compounding. Finding a qualifying pharmacy requires calling multiple pharmacies directly — or using a service like medfinder to do the calling for you.
medfinder calls pharmacies near you to find which ones can fill your Butabarbital prescription. You provide your medication, dose, and location — medfinder handles the calls and texts you results.
Because Butabarbital is a DEA Schedule III controlled substance, only licensed prescribers with an active DEA registration that includes Schedule III authority can legally prescribe it. Any licensed physician (MD or DO), nurse practitioner (NP), or physician assistant (PA) with full prescribing authority and a current Schedule III DEA number is eligible to prescribe Butabarbital.
Telehealth availability is limited for Butabarbital. Post-pandemic regulations impose restrictions on prescribing Schedule III controlled substances via telemedicine, which may require at least one prior in-person evaluation. Additionally, most telehealth platforms focus on commercially available medications, and Butabarbital's discontinued status makes it an uncommon telehealth prescription. An in-person specialist visit is typically required.
Yes. Butabarbital is a DEA Schedule III controlled substance (Controlled Substance Code 2100, non-narcotic). This classification reflects its moderate potential for physical and psychological dependence — greater than Schedule IV substances like benzodiazepines and Z-drugs, but lower than Schedule II opioids or stimulants.
As a Schedule III controlled substance, Butabarbital prescriptions: may be issued via written, oral (phone-in), or electronic prescriptions; may be refilled up to 5 times within 6 months of the original prescription date; require the prescriber's DEA registration number on the prescription; and are subject to state Prescription Monitoring Program (PMP) reporting requirements.
Because Butabarbital is a Schedule III substance with significant dependence potential, abrupt discontinuation after prolonged use can cause severe withdrawal symptoms including seizures. Patients should never stop Butabarbital without medical supervision.
Most common side effects include:
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Zolpidem (Ambien)
Most widely prescribed sleep medication in the US. Z-drug (non-benzodiazepine hypnotic). Schedule IV. Widely available as generic ($10–$30/month with discount programs). FDA-approved for short-term insomnia.
Temazepam (Restoril)
Benzodiazepine FDA-approved specifically for insomnia. Schedule IV. Available as generic ($15–$50/month). Effective for both sleep onset and sleep maintenance.
Eszopiclone (Lunesta)
Non-benzodiazepine hypnotic approved for long-term insomnia treatment. Schedule IV. Generic available ($20–$60/month). Notable for bitter taste side effect.
Lorazepam (Ativan)
Benzodiazepine for anxiety and pre-procedural sedation. Schedule IV. Widely available as generic ($5–$20/month). Best when Butabarbital was used for anxiety rather than insomnia.
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Alcohol
majorLife-threatening combination. Both are CNS depressants; combined use can cause fatal respiratory depression. Absolutely contraindicated.
Opioids (all — morphine, oxycodone, fentanyl, etc.)
majorBoth suppress respiration. Combined use carries risk of fatal respiratory depression. FDA black box warning applies.
MAO inhibitors (phenelzine, tranylcypromine, selegiline)
majorMAOIs potentiate CNS depression. Combined use can cause severe CNS suppression.
Warfarin (blood thinners)
moderateCYP2C9 induction reduces warfarin effectiveness, increasing clotting risk. INR monitoring essential when starting or stopping Butabarbital.
Oral contraceptives
moderateCYP enzyme induction significantly reduces hormonal contraceptive effectiveness. Backup birth control required.
Benzodiazepines
moderateAdditive CNS and respiratory depression. Combined use requires careful monitoring.
Corticosteroids (prednisone, dexamethasone)
moderateCYP3A4 induction reduces corticosteroid blood levels and effectiveness.
Beta-blockers (metoprolol, propranolol)
moderateCYP induction may reduce beta-blocker plasma levels and clinical effectiveness.
Anticonvulsants (phenytoin, carbamazepine)
moderateComplex bidirectional interactions; may increase or decrease seizure medication levels. Requires close monitoring.
Sedating antihistamines (diphenhydramine)
minorAdditive CNS depression. Avoid OTC sleep aids and allergy medications while taking Butabarbital.
Butabarbital is a historically significant medication — a barbiturate that served an important role in treating insomnia and anxiety before newer, safer alternatives became available. Today, it occupies a unique space: still FDA-recognized as safe and effective, but commercially discontinued due to low demand. For the rare patient who genuinely needs it in 2026, compounding pharmacies offer the only path to access.
The most important thing patients should know: never stop Butabarbital abruptly. Barbiturate withdrawal carries serious risks including life-threatening seizures. If your medication is running low and you cannot find it, contact your prescriber immediately for a transition plan.
If you need help finding a compounding pharmacy that can fill your Butabarbital prescription, medfinder calls pharmacies near you on your behalf and texts you back with results — saving you hours of frustrating phone calls.
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Our medication guides are researched and written to help patients make informed decisions. All content is reviewed for accuracy and updated regularly. Learn more about our standards
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