Old Phenobarbital or older Amitriptyline?

[HCandKROD]

I have been having trouble with insomnia and have some Phenobarbital 60mg dated 2/12/11 and I have some Amitriptyline 10mg from 11/15/09. First question they have been in a dark drawer and had moisture packs in the bottles. Is there any reason either of them should be bad?
Second, I don't want to use either for recreational purpose only for temporary insomnia use. Which will produce sleep better? They are both shitty drugs but it's all I got to work with right now. Input anyone?

 

[AlphaMethylPhenyl]

Amitriptyline is less addictive and will probably not interfere with sleep architecture as much.

 

[T. Calderone]

That's a small dose of amitriptyline at 10 mg. If one doesn't help you sleep, you'll know why.
But phenobarbital will knock you out, maybe too harsh if you never used it before.

 

[Venrak]

Both medications have likely lost little to no potency. As Ho-Chi-Minh says, the phenobarbital has a greater potential to disturb sleep phases and general sleep quality, and has greater addiction potential.

If you have responded well to histamine receptor antagonists for sleep in the past, there are good chances the amitriptyline will do you just fine.

 

[bunge]

As the others said above the amitriptyline will be the most suitable and mix with a little weed will knock you out cold. the 'barb though imo will be more fun...but I hate amitriptyline with a passion so im bias.lol
I didnt realize docs were even still prescribing barbiturates anymore, thought they went out with leeches!:-D
I almost forgot, dont mix the two together and dont drink with the phenobarbital as 'barbs are notorious for being dangerous when mixed with other cns depressants.

 

[pasha]

I have been having trouble with insomnia and have some Phenobarbital 60mg dated 2/12/11 and I have some Amitriptyline 10mg from 11/15/09. First question they have been in a dark drawer and had moisture packs in the bottles. Is there any reason either of them should be bad?

There's no reason they should be bad unless they weren't stored in a cool dry place. Drug expiration dates mean nothing, and are just there to fulfill legal requirements. Most medications can last more than a decade if they're stored in the right environment.

Second, I don't want to use either for recreational purpose only for temporary insomnia use. Which will produce sleep better? They are both shitty drugs but it's all I got to work with right now. Input anyone?

Actually the amitiptyline is excellent for a knock out drug and that's the one I would choose from the two.

Addiction aside, phenobarbital has a half life which can last for more than half a week, so you run the risk of overlapping doses, which is something you don't want on barbiturates as it can easily mean a fatal overdose. You also don't want the phenobarbital 'buzz' following you around for a long time, as it's uncomfortable, and causes stupor and drunkenness. On top of that it's not extraordinary at inducing sleep IME.

 

[HCandKROD]

That's a small dose of amitriptyline at 10 mg. If one doesn't help you sleep, you'll know why.
But phenobarbital will knock you out, maybe too harsh if you never used it before.

Yeah it is a small dose. I got these when I was in pain management for some purpose I don't exactly remember why now have like 300 of them. The Phenobarb was prescribed after I had a seizure. It was from Xanax withdrawal but I never told the doc. I didn't like how it made me feel like a zombie. I've just let these sit till my bout with insomnia kixked in a couple weeks ago. Don't wanna hassle with going to my PCP.