Hexobarbital or hexobarbitone, (sold both in acid and sodium salt, brand name Evipan, and Tobinal), is a barbiturate derivative having hypnotic and sedative effects. It was used in the 1940s and 1950s as an agent for inducing anesthesia for surgery, as well as a rapid-acting, short-lasting hypnotic for general use, and has a relatively fast onset of effects and short duration of action. It was also used to murder women prisoners at Ravensbruck Concentration Camp. Modern barbiturates (such as Thiopental) has largely supplanted the use of hexobarbital as an anesthetic, as they allow for better control of the depth of anesthesia. Hexobarbital is still used in some scientific research. Hexobarbital binds at a distinct binding site associated with a Cl- ionophore at the GABA-A receptor, increasing the duration of time for which the Cl- ionophore is open. The post-synaptic inhibitory effect of GABA in the thalamus is, therefore, prolonged.

Secobarbital sodium, a barbiturate, is FDA approved for the treatment of insomnia and for pre-anesthetic use. This drug binds at a distinct site associated with a Cl- ionopore at the GABAA receptor, increasing the duration of time for which the Cl- ionopore is open. The post-synaptic inhibitory effect of GABA in the thalamus is, therefore, prolonged. Adverse reactions are drowsiness, lethargy, hangover, paradoxical excitement in elderly patients, somnolence. Rifampin may decrease secobarbital levels by increasing metabolism.

Aminophenazone is a phenyl-pyrazolone derivative with potent analgesic and antipyretic properties. Aminophenazone has been used as salt or complexes, including topically as the salicylate. It was recommended for the treatment of a fever, neuralgia, myositis, acute rheumatism, arthritis, chorea. In 1999 the FDA suspended aminophenazone. The drug caused agranulocytosis. Some of the cases of agranulocytosis were fatal. Another reason for suspending this drug from the market was its ability to react with nitrite-containing food, thus forming carcinogenic nitrosamines. A breath test with 13C-labeled aminopyrine has been used as a non-invasive measure of cytochrome P-450 metabolic activity in liver function tests.

Morpholine salicylate is a derivative of salicylic acid. It is a non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drug and was marketed under a tradename Retarcyl, Dolical and Deposal.

2,5-Dimethyl-N-Phenyl-3H-diazaphophol-4-imine is a quinonoid tautomer of GABAA and GABAB agonist progabide. According to quantum mechanical calculations, a quinonoid form is predominant in polar solvents, while aromatic tautomer is prevalent in apolar solvents. Progabide is a prodrug of gamma-aminobutyric acid and was investigated for the treatment of epilepsy, Parkinson's disease, schizophrenia, clinical depression, anxiety disorder, and other diseases. Progabide was marketed in France by Sanofi Aventis under tradename Gabrene for use in monotherapy and also as adjunctive therapy for generalized tonic-clonic, myoclonic, partial seizures, and for Lennox‐Gastaut syndrome, in both children and adults.

Proxibarbal is a non-sedative barbiturate with a specific anti-serotonin and anti-histamine effect, due to enzyme induction of serotoninase and histaminase. Its lack of unpleasant side-effects. Proxibarbal exists in ring-chain tautomeric equilibrium with the two diastereomers of valofan. Proxibarbal is metabolized to a five-membered lactone. Its only barbituric property is its ability to induce enzymes that destroy a surplus of neurohormones and rid people of their neurovegetative sufferings, including migraine and other types of vascular headache. Side effects are: dizziness, drowsiness, dyspepsia, allergic reactions. Proxibarbal enhances the effects of other depriving agents, including alcohol.

Alaproclate is a selective 5-HT uptake inhibitor. Alaproclate enantiomers block potassium and NMDA receptor currents in a stereoselective manner. Alaproclate was practically devoid of action on a number of receptors as examined in binding studies in vitro: 5-HT, histamine-H1, alpha 1, -alpha 2-adrenergic and dopamine D2 receptors. Alaproclate was investigated in trials for the treatment of depression and dementia.

Oxypertine (Equipertine, Forit, Integrin, Lanturil, Lotawin, Opertil) is a neuroleptic drug and was originally introduced as a treatment for schizophrenia in the 1960s. Oxypertine is an indole derivative with general properties similar to those of the phenothiazine, chlorpromazine. It has been given by mouth in the treatment of various psychoses including schizophrenia, mania, and disturbed behaviour, and of severe anxiety. Like reserpine and tetrabenazine, oxypertine depletes catecholamines, though not serotonin, possibly underlying its neuroleptic efficacy. The molecular structure is strongly similar to solypertine and milipertine.

Bezitramide was developed as an orally long-acting analgesic compound and was marketed under the brand name Burgodin. The overdose of this drug caused death that is why it was withdrawn from the market.

Fenethylline (generic name Captagon) is a codrug of amphetamine and theophylline. In the fenetylline molecule, theophylline is covalently linked with amphetamine via an alkyl chain. It was formerly used to treat conditions such as ADHD, narcolepsy, and depression, but its use has been banned because of the potential for abuse. Amphetamine, an agonist for trace amine-associated receptor 1 (TAAR1) with enhancing dopamine signaling (an increase of irritability, aggression, etc.), is the main cause of Captagon addiction. Theophylline, an antagonist that blocks adenosine receptors (e.g. A2aR) in the brain responsible for restlessness and painlessness, may attenuate the behavioral sensitization caused by amphetamine. Fenethylline is included in a list of compounds to be considered by a World Health Organization (WHO) Expert Committee in April 1985 for possible international scheduling under the Convention on Psychotropic Substances, 1971. Fenethylline re-emerged because of its widespread abuse by Middle Eastern young adults. Terrorist groups such as the Islamic State to enhance what they consider desirable characteristics - aggressiveness, alertness, and fearlessness - in their recruits, promote it.