Medicine is purely established on the concept of dosage, the constant clash between poison and health care. In order to establish a safe but effective amount, a clinical research is conducted with the help of trialing different doses of new drugs. The reason behind it it’s simple, too much of any medicine can cause harm, just as the old saying goes, “the dose makes the poison”. But, since the topic I’m discussing is the types of drugs used in assisted dying, and the basic motivation behind euthanasia is the relieve of pain and suffering, it would only make sense if the amount increases. In fact, anything that is taken in excessive quantities can be fatal, truly.

The drugs that are commonly and preferably used in Switzerland, some USA states, the Netherlands, Belgium, and many other places to end life are called barbiturates, Nembutal being one of them, it is categorized both as secobarbital capsules and pentobarbital. They are either used alone or in combination and as a response to taking them, they can effectively cause the activity of the brain and the nervous system to slow down up to the point where it stops telling the body to keep the respiratory system working. An overdose of barbiturates is fatal, and it’s accompanied by peaceful and uneventful death, proving them to be both safe and efficient euthanasia narcotics.

Besides barbiturate there are other options that can be considered, such as drugs that can cause massive muscle relaxation, affecting the respiratory system and ending the terminal illness. Others can have a deadly effect by lowering blood sugar levels, causing heart attack, or paralysis, all of which include suffering in form of seizures, prolonged, insufferable distress and agonizing pain.