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Phenobarbital is a barbiturate (bar-BIT-chur-ate). Phenobarbital slows the activity of your brain and nervous system.
Phenobarbital is used to treat or prevent seizures. Phenobarbital is also used short-term as a sedative to help you relax.
Phenobarbital may also be used for purposes not listed in this medication guide.
You should not use phenobarbital if you have severe liver disease, severe asthma or COPD, a personal or family history of porphyria, or a history of addiction to drugs similar to phenobarbital.
You should not take phenobarbital if you are allergic to phenobarbital or other barbiturates (Nembutal, Seconal, and others), or if you have:
severe asthma, chronic obstructive pulmonary disorder (COPD), or other breathing disorder;
a personal or family history of porphyria (a genetic enzyme disorder that causes symptoms affecting the skin or nervous system);
severe liver disease; or
a history of addiction to phenobarbital or similar medicines (Valium, Xanax, Ativan, and others).
To make sure phenobarbital is safe for you, tell your doctor if you have:
liver disease;
temporary or chronic pain;
a pituitary gland disorder;
pheochromocytoma (tumor of the adrenal gland);
kidney disease;
a food or drug allergy;
a condition for which you take a blood thinner (warfarin, Coumadin, Jantoven).
Follow your doctor's instructions about taking seizure medication if you are pregnant. Seizure control is very important during pregnancy, and having a seizure could harm both mother and baby. Do not start or stop taking this medicine without your doctor's advice, and tell your doctor right away if you become pregnant.
Phenobarbital can make birth control pills less effective. Ask your doctor about using a non-hormonal birth control (condom, diaphragm with spermicide) to prevent pregnancy.
It is not known whether phenobarbital passes into breast milk or if it could harm a nursing baby. Tell your doctor if you are breast-feeding a baby.
Follow all directions on your prescription label. Do not take this medicine in larger or smaller amounts or for longer than recommended.
Phenobarbital may be habit-forming. Never share phenobarbital with another person, especially someone with a history of drug abuse or addiction. Keep the medication in a place where others cannot get to it. Selling or giving away this medicine is against the law.
Do not change your phenobarbital dose without your doctor's advice. Tell your doctor if the medicine does not seem to work as well in treating your condition.
If you are taking phenobarbital to treat seizures, keep taking the medicine even if you feel fine.
Do not stop using suddenly after long-term use, or you could have unpleasant withdrawal symptoms. Ask your doctor how to safely stop using phenobarbital.
Store at room temperature away from moisture, heat, and light.
Keep track of the amount of medicine used from each new bottle. Phenobarbital is a drug of abuse and you should be aware if anyone is using your medicine improperly or without a prescription.
Take the missed dose as soon as you remember. Skip the missed dose if it is almost time for your next scheduled dose. Do not take extra medicine to make up the missed dose.
Seek emergency medical attention or call the Poison Help line at 1-800-222-1222. An overdose of phenobarbital can be fatal.
Overdose symptoms may include slow or shallow breathing, weak pulse, cold or clammy skin, little or no urination, pinpoint pupils, feeling cold, or fainting.
Drinking alcohol with phenobarbital can cause side effects.
This medication may impair your thinking or reactions. Be careful if you drive or do anything that requires you to be alert.
Phenobarbital may cause a severe allergic reaction. Stop taking phenobarbital and get emergency medical help if you have signs of an allergic reaction: hives; difficult breathing; swelling of your face, eyes, lips, tongue, or throat.
Call your doctor at once if you have:
weak or shallow breathing;
unusual pain anywhere in your body (especially in the neck, shoulder, or arms);
a red blood cell disorder--pale skin, muscle weakness, diarrhea, weight loss, rapid heart rate, tongue swelling, numbness or tingling in your hands or feet, feeling short of breath; or
severe skin reaction--fever, sore throat, swelling in your face or tongue, burning in your eyes, skin pain followed by a red or purple skin rash that spreads (especially in the face or upper body) and causes blistering and peeling.
Side effects such as confusion, depression, or excitement may be more likely in older adults and those who are ill or debilitated.
Common side effects may include:
drowsiness, lack of energy;
dizziness or spinning sensation;
depressed mood;
feeling restless or excited (especially in children or older adults);
drunk feeling; or
"hangover" effect (drowsiness the day after taking phenobarbital).
This is not a complete list of side effects and others may occur. Call your doctor for medical advice about side effects. You may report side effects to FDA at 1-800-FDA-1088.
Taking phenobarbital with other drugs that make you sleepy or slow your breathing can cause dangerous or life-threatening side effects. Ask your doctor before taking phenobarbital with a sleeping pill, narcotic pain medicine, muscle relaxer, or medicine for anxiety, depression, or seizures.
Other drugs may interact with phenobarbital, including prescription and over-the-counter medicines, vitamins, and herbal products. Tell each of your health care providers about all medicines you use now and any medicine you start or stop using.
Remember, keep this and all other medicines out of the reach of children, never share your medicines with others, and use this medication only for the indication prescribed.
Always consult your healthcare provider to ensure the information displayed on this page applies to your personal circumstances.
Medically reviewed by USARx EDITORIAL TEAM Last updated on 1/1/2020.
Source: Drugs.com Phenobarbital Sodium (www.drugs.com/phenobarbital.html).
Applies to phenobarbital: oral elixir, oral tablets, parenteral injection
Side effects include:
Residual sedation, drowsiness, lethargy, vertigo, nausea, vomiting, headache.
Applies to phenobarbital: compounding powder, injectable solution, oral capsule, oral elixir, oral tablet
The most commonly reported side effect was somnolence.
Common (1% to 10%): Somnolence
Postmarketing reports: Sedation, residual sedation/"hangover" effect, drowsiness, lethargy, vertigo, localized/diffuse neuralgic pain, headache, hyperactivity, hypotension, hyperkinesia, ataxia, central nervous system (CNS) depression, dizziness, impairment of fine motor skills, Grand mal convulsion, prolonged coma, depressed/absent reflexes, nystagmus
Drowsiness/sedation tended to decrease with continued use.
Localized or diffuse neuralgic pain occurred, especially in psychoneurotic patients with insomnia. This pain was most frequently located in the neck, shoulders, and upper limbs and appeared in paroxysms that were most intense early in the morning. In some patients, the pain continued for days after discontinuation of this drug.
Hyperactivity occurred in pediatric and geriatric patients.
Postmarketing reports: Accentuated emotional disturbances/phobias, aggression, excitement/hyperexcitability, restlessness, delirium, irritability, agitation, confusion, nightmares, nervousness, psychiatric disturbance, hallucinations, insomnia/sleep disturbance, anxiety, abnormality in thinking, paradoxical reaction (unusual excitement), mental depression/depression, cognitive impairment, behavioral disturbances in children, abnormal behavior, mood altered, subtle mood changes, menstrually related mood disorder, suicidal ideation, memory/concentration/judgment impairment, withdrawal syndrome, tolerance, dependence, psychic/physical dependence, mental confusion/confusion, disorientation
Some patients have experienced paradoxical excitement, restlessness, or delirium in the presence of pain.
Paradoxical reactions, hallucinations, restlessness, hyperexcitability, and confusion have occurred in geriatric and pediatric patients. Pediatric patients were more likely to experience aggression or irritability.
Postmarketing reports: Antiepileptic hypersensitivity syndrome (e.g., fever, rash, lymphadenopathy, lymphocytosis, eosinophilia, hematological abnormalities, hepatic and other organ involvement [renal, pulmonary])
Antiepileptic hypersensitivity syndrome typically occurred 1 to 8 weeks after first exposure or within 1 day of rechallenge. This syndrome may have cross reactivity with other antiepileptic agents.
Skin eruptions may be associated with fever, delirium, and marked changes in the liver and other organs.
Postmarketing reports: Erythematous dermatitis, exfoliative dermatitis (e.g., Stevens-Johnson syndrome, toxic epidermal necrolysis), skin eruptions, maculopapular/morbilliform/scarlatiniform rashes, dermatitis, erythema multiforme, drug eruption, evidence of connective tissue changes, skin blisters/bullae, photosensitivity, erythroderma, urticaria
Postmarketing reports: Localized/diffuse myalgic or arthritic pain, osteomalacia, rickets, decreased bone mineral density, increased risk of fracture, Dupuytren's contracture, bone metabolism disorder, frozen shoulder, Ledderhose's syndrome, general joint pain, osteopenia, osteoporosis, fractures
Localized or diffuse myalgic or arthritic pain occurred, especially in psychoneurotic patients with insomnia. This pain was most frequently located in the neck, shoulders, and upper limbs and appeared in paroxysms that were most intense early in the morning. In some patients, pain continued for days after discontinuation of therapy.
Decreased bone mineral density, Dupuytren's contracture, osteopenia, osteoporosis, and fractures occurred in patients receiving long-term therapy; however, the exact mechanism of action in bones was not identified.
Postmarketing reports: Inebriation (drunk-like effect), fever, neonatal sedation, neonatal drug dependence/withdrawal, neonatal symptoms resembling vitamin K deficiency, neonatal bleeding due to vitamin K deficiency, congenital anomaly, cleft lip and palate, lowered body temperature
Postmarketing reports: Megaloblastic anemia, macrocytic anemia, aplastic anemia, agranulocytosis, thrombocytopenia, hypoprothrombinemia, methemoglobinemia, purpura, lymphocytosis
Megaloblastic anemia occurred after chronic use of this drug, and may be due to folate deficiency.
Methemoglobinemia has occurred in infants nursed by mothers receiving this drug.
Postmarketing reports: Circulatory collapse, peripheral vascular collapse, weak heartbeat, circulatory failure, bradycardia, hypotension, profound shock, vasodilation
Postmarketing reports: Respiratory depression, severe/significant respiratory depression, apnea, hypoventilation, bronchospasm, laryngospasm
Bronchospasm and laryngospasm were reported, especially in patients given the IV formulation.
Postmarketing reports: Abnormal hepatic function, hepatitis, liver damage, cholestasis, toxic hepatitis, jaundice
Postmarketing reports: Hypocalcemia, folate deficiency, abnormal vitamin D metabolism, increased vitamin D requirements (possibly resulting from abnormal vitamin D metabolism), vitamin K deficiency, hypophosphatemia
Postmarketing reports: Nausea, vomiting, constipation, diarrhea
Hypersensitivity reactions generally consisted of acquired hypersensitivity. Patients with a higher risk of developing reactions were more likely to have asthma, urticaria, and angioedema.
Postmarketing reports: Localized swelling (e.g. eyelids, cheeks, lips), hypersensitivity reactions (e.g., angioedema, skin rashes, exfoliative dermatitis), angioedema
Postmarketing reports: Injection site reactions, local necrosis after extravasation (IV/subcutaneous injection)
Postmarketing reports: Renal failure
Postmarketing reports: Fibromas
Postmarketing reports: Reduced serum concentrations of thyroid hormones
Postmarketing reports: Peyronie's disease
Medically reviewed by USARx EDITORIAL TEAM Last updated on 1/1/2020.
Source: Drugs.com Phenobarbital Sodium (www.drugs.com/phenobarbital.html).
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