[The transition of psychotropic drugs in Japanese Pharmacopoeia (JP) (Part 8). The adoptiion of barbiturates, hypnotics and sedatives in Japanese Pharmacopoeia (JP) and transition of the standards and the test methods].

This is the study on the transition of the standards and test methods for barbiturates drugs (Bar-d) between JP IV (1920) and JP XII (1991). The results are as follows: Many new Bar-d appeared between JP VI (1951) and JP VIII (1971). Then many kinds of test methods for Bar-d were studied between JP VII (1961) and JP VIII (1971) and common and precise test methods were established. It is thought that Bar-d were used widely as hypnotics and sedatives in the 1960's in Japan, but some Bar-d were eliminated since JP IX (1976). The test methods for Bar-d were never revised after JP VIII (1971). It is thought that the first choice drugs for hypnotics and sedatives in Japan have transferred from Bromides and Bar-d to Benzodiazepines and the demand of Bar-d as hypnotics and sedatives has declined.