Warnings & Recalls for Phenobarbital
Is Phenobarbital Addictive?
This drug, Phenobarbital, is a habit-forming drug. Sharing is highly not recommended, and taking a larger dose or taking dosages close together can be harmful and cause overdosage. Symptoms of an overdose include uncontrollable movement of the eye, loss of coordination, drowsiness, slowed breathing, drop in body temperature and blisters.
Who Should Take Phenobarbital?
The following users of Phenobarbital should proceed with caution: those with chronic pain, those who are already taking central nervous system depressants or under the influence of alcohol, those with liver damage or kidney damage, those with tumors of the adrenal or pituitary gland, and those with a history of depression, mental illness, or alcoholism.
Patients should undergo periodic blood testing and renal testing while on Phenobarbital for extended periods of time.
Patients should not use Phenobarbital for longer than 2 weeks for the treatment of insomnia, unless they are told to do so by a physician.
If the patient wishes to discontinue Phenobarbital for any reason, a gradual diminishing of the medication should occur until the patient can safely stop using Phenobarbital without adverse effects like
severe return of seizures.
Before the use of Phenobarbital:
- the patient's physician should know if any allergies to barbiturates (primidone, secobarbital) are present.
- the patients doctor should know medical history especially if the patient has had hormone problems (Addison's disease), liver or kidney problems, lung disease like sleep apnea, mental disorders, history of alcohol abuse, family history of blood disorders and any vitamin deficiencies
- doctors should also be aware of any medication the patient is on including prescription drugs, nonprescription drugs and herbal products to manage drug interactions
Patients are advised to not use heavy machinery or any activity that requires alertness for safety after taking Phenobarbital as it causes dizziness.
DO NOT MIX PHENOBARBITAL WITH ALCOHOL.
Patients
should not take this medication if they suffer from porphyria, sever liver disease, have a history of addiction to barbiturates and sedatives, sever asthma or any other breathing disorders.
The elixir drug may have alcohol or sugar. Those with diabetes, alcoholism, liver disease or any other illness that will be affected by these substances should avoid Phenobarbital.
Some patients on Phenobarbital suffer from
memory loss. If this occurs, the use of Phenobarbital should stop and the patient should seek medical attention.
Patients should be warned that Phenobarbital may cause
psychological dependence and it also may impair mental/physical abilities.
Contraindications
Phenoborbital is contraindicated in patients taking the following medications: etravirin, felbamate, rilpivirin, MAO inhibitors, phenothiazines, disulfiram, other seizure medications, antihistamines, tricyclic antidepressants, drugs for sleep/anxiety, valproic acid, St. John's wort, cyclosporine, doxycycline, estrogens, griseofulvin, metronidazole, ranolazine, blood thinners, calcium channel blockers, muscle relaxants, steroids, birth control pills, and narcotic pain relievers. Phenobarbital is also contraindicated in patients with barbituate sensitivity or a history of blood problems.
Patients on anticoagulants, corticosteroids, and birth control might need to readjust their dosage due to contraindication with Phenobarbital.
Phenobarbital and Pregnancy
Forms of birth control, including pills, patches, rings, implants and injections may not work when taken with Phenobarbital. Other non-hormonal precautions must be taken to prevent unwanted pregnancy.
Phenobarbital has been given a pregnancy category D by the FDA. This is the second-highest at-risk label.
Since taking Phenobarbital may harm a fetus, it is not recommended for use during pregnancy. Withdrawal symptoms, birth defects and cognitive deficiencies can occur in babies born to those who were taking phenobarbital in the last trimester of pregnancy. But since seizures are not only harmful to mother, but also harmful to baby, pregnant patients are advised to not stop taking this medicine until after consulting with a physician about the risk and benefits.
Pregnant mothers must also check their folic acid and vitamin K levels as Phenobarbital may lower these levels and cause birth defects.
Patients should call doctor if their newborn is experiencing symptoms like fussiness, shaking or bleeding.
Nursing mothers should be aware that small amounts of phenobarbital will pass into breast milk. The infants who receive this milk are known to be lethargic and somewhat sedated. Patients who are breastfeeding should continue with caution and monitor blood concentrations of the infant receiving the milk.
Phenobarbital Treatment and Use
Phenobarbital | solofton is a medication used to control epilepsy, or chronic seizures. Phenobarbital may also calm those with anxiety issues to aid them in sleep for up to two weeks at a time, can be used as a sedative before surgery, and can also be used to prevent withdrawal symptoms after an addiction.
How does Phenobarbital work?
Phenobarbital is a barbiturate anticonvulsant/hypnotic and a central nervous system depressant. It causes sedation and sleepiness by slowing the electrical activity in the brain, and suppressing abnormal activity in the brain that happens during a seizure.
Dosage information for Phenobarbital
Phenobarbital is produced either in tablet or elixir (liquid) form to be taken one to three times daily.
Phenobarbital is recommended to be taken with a full glass of water by mouth with or without food depending on the patient’s preference.
Dosage can vary and is dependent on the patient’s weight (for children), medical condition, blood levels, and the response to other treatments. The patient’s phenobarbital dosage may start low and be gradually increased so that they may avoid harsh side effects. The preferred dosage may take weeks to reach, and the dosage must stay constant so therefore it must be taken at the same time every day. If the patient misses a dose, they are advised to take it as soon as they remember. Doubling your dosage is not recommended.
Tablets come in 15 mg, 30 mg, and 100 mg made of corn starch, lactose, magnesium stearate, and sodium starch glycolate. The elixir contains 20 mg of Phenobarbital per teaspoon and is made of ethyl alcohol, glycerin, oil of orange, sucrose, water, FD& C Red #40, and FD& C Blue #1.
This drug should be taken close to bedtime as it causes drowsiness.
Dosages should not be changed unless specified by a doctor.
Adults should take 30-120 mg a day for sedation, 50-100 mg for seizures two to three times daily, and take Phenobarbital once daily at night to help with anxiety at night (only up to two weeks).
Children’s dosage will be determined by the patients doctor based on testing.
