Barbital is a long-acting barbiturate that depresses most metabolic processes at high doses. It was widely used in the 1980s as a sleep-aid (sedative), however, it induces dependence and has largely been replaced by safer benzodiazepines. It is still used in veterinary practice for central nervous system depression. Barbital is detectable in blood and saliva for up to 3 days, 3 weeks in urine, and up to three months in hair.