Phenobarbital

Phenobarbital is a type of drug that slows your brain's activity and controls abnormal electrical actions occurring in the brain. It is only available to you when your healthcare provider prescribes it.

Phenobarbital can be used in the following conditions:

• When you or your baby have a seizure or seizure disorder with periods of unusual behavior, sensations, and sometimes loss of awareness.
• When you have an anxiety disorder, characterized by significant and uncontrollable feelings of fear.
• When you find it difficult to sleep or fall asleep.

Your healthcare provider may also prescribe this medicine for other conditions not stated here.

Phenobarbital is a drug that helps to control seizures, anxiety and slow your brain’s activity. This medicine is used alone or combined with other medicines to control seizures, calm you down or help you sleep. Your healthcare provider may adjust your dose after a few weeks if the effect becomes reduced.

Phenobarbital is a prescription-only medicine. It can be taken by mouth or injected into the vein. You should not take this medicine if you are pregnant or have liver disease. Also, note that you should not take this drug if you have had an allergic reaction to it before.

• Phenobarbital comes in a tablet form taken by mouth, suspension for children, and injectable form injected into your veins by a healthcare provider.
• Swallow the tablets whole.
• Shake the suspension well before giving your child and measure with the measuring device that came with the drug.
• Do not add more doses. It can lead to drug addiction and dependence.
• Do not stop taking this medicine. Doing this can put you at risk of having a seizure that is more difficult to treat.
• In case you forget a dose, take it as soon as you remember, but if you remember at a time close to your next dose, skip the missed dose and take only the next dose.
• If you take more of this medicine than what was prescribed for you, go to the nearest healthcare provider (with the remaining medicine) and report the overdose.

You may experience mild unpleasant effects of this medicine.

Here are examples of some common side effect you may experience:

• You may have a headache.
• You may feel dizzy or drowsy.
• Children may become excited, and their activity increases.
• Feeling like you want to vomit and vomiting.

You should mention these or other unpleasant effects on your healthcare provider, especially if they stay longer than a week.

You must inform your healthcare provider if you have any other condition such as liver or kidney disease. This will help them check your risk for any severe unpleasant effects.

• Do not take phenobarbital if you have liver disease, are pregnant or breastfeeding.
• Do not take phenobarbital if you had a drug reaction to it before, like a rash that went away when you stopped taking it.
• Do not use other drugs, supplements and herbal products with this drug without first confirming with your healthcare provider.
• Avoid alcoholic drinks while you are taking phenobarbital. Taking alcohol may make you drowsier.
• Do not drive or operate any machinery while you are on phenobarbital because you may feel drowsy, and this may lead to an accident.