Has your doctor prescribed you or someone in your family a medication called Phenobarbital? If so, it's important to know exactly what this medication is. You may feel a little scared when you hear the name, but don't worry. Let's talk about this medication in simple terms, what it does, how to use it, and what to be careful about.
What exactly is Phenobarbital?
Simply put, it's a drug that calms our nervous system. Think of the nerves in your brain as sending little electrical messages. In a condition like epilepsy, which is when a seizure occurs, these electrical messages start to travel very quickly and erratically without control. That's when a seizure occurs.
Phenobarbital works by calming down overactive nerves and controlling those chaotic electrical messages. This is why it is mainly used to control and prevent seizures .
Not only that, doctors use this medicine for several other reasons:
- For severe anxiety: Reduce anxiety that is too much to calm the mind.
- To induce sleep: To sedate the patient and induce sleep before some surgical procedures.
Things you need to tell your doctor before taking medicine
This is very important. It is essential for your safety that your doctor is aware of any other medical conditions you may have. If you have any of the conditions listed below, be sure to tell your doctor before starting this medication.
| Disease or condition | Why should you inform? |
|---|---|
| If you drink alcohol regularly | Combining alcohol and this medicine can cause excessive drowsiness and dangerous effects. |
| Kidney disease | Since the medication is eliminated from the body through the kidneys, the dosage may need to be adjusted. |
| Liver disease | This medicine is processed by the liver. If the liver is weak, the effects of the medicine may be increased. |
| Lung diseases such as asthma | This medicine can sometimes make breathing a little difficult. |
| A rare disease called Porphyria | This medicine may worsen porphyria. |
| If there was a drug addiction | Since this medication also has the potential to be addictive, the doctor should be aware of that. |
| If you or a family member has had suicidal thoughts | This medicine can affect the psyche of some people, so this is very important. |
| If you are pregnant or trying to get pregnant | This medicine may affect the baby in the womb. |
| If the baby is breastfed | The medicine can pass to the baby through breast milk. |
How should I use this medicine?
- Correct dosage: Take the dosage exactly as prescribed by your doctor. Do not increase or decrease it.
- Measuring device: Since this is a syrup, use a specially marked cup or spoon to measure the medicine. Do not measure with household teaspoons , as they are not accurate. If you do not have such a measuring device, you can ask your doctor or pharmacist for one.
- With food: If you feel like you have an upset stomach, take the medicine with food or a glass of milk.
- On time: Try to take your medicine at the same time every day. This will help keep the levels of the medicine in your body consistent.
- Don't stop suddenly: This is the most important thing. If you take this medicine for a long time and then stop it suddenly without your doctor's advice, you are at a much higher risk of your seizures getting worse . If you do stop, your doctor will gradually reduce the dose.
What if I take an overdose?
If you think you have taken too much of this medicine, go to the nearest hospital Emergency Department (ETU) immediately . That is the safest thing to do. Alternatively, you can call the National Poisons Information Centre at the Colombo National Hospital for advice.
Other things that may interact with this medicine
Phenobarbital can interact with other medications, so you should tell your doctor about all other medications you are taking (including vitamins and herbal remedies).
| Medicines that should never be taken with this medicine | |
|---|---|
| Some medications for HIV or AIDS (given with cobicistat) | Primidone (this is also a medicine for seizures) |
| Other types of barbiturates | Voriconazole (an antifungal) |
| Other medications and substances that may cause problems | |
| Alcohol or alcohol-containing medications | Medications for mental illness and anxiety |
| Antihistamines (for colds, allergies) | Painkillers (especially strong painkillers) |
| Sleeping pills | Muscle relaxants |
| Types of steroids (e.g. Prednisone) | |
Things to keep in mind when taking medication
- Drowsiness and dizziness: This medicine may make you feel drowsy and dizzy . Therefore , do not drive (car, bike, three-wheeler) or operate machinery until you know how this medicine affects you. If you are an elderly person, be careful when getting up from a standing position or from a sitting position. Otherwise, you may feel dizzy and fall.
- Skin reactions: Sometimes, even weeks after starting the medication, severe skin reactions can occur. If you develop red or purple spots on your skin with fever, body aches, and then blisters and the skin starts to peel off, see a doctor immediately .
- Birth control: This medication may make birth control pills less effective . So, if you are using birth control pills, talk to your doctor about using an additional barrier method (such as a condom).
- Mental health: Some people taking this medication may experience increased suicidal thoughts or depression. If you are having distressing thoughts, feeling hopeless, or having thoughts of ending your life, please do not suffer alone. Tell your doctor right away .
Possible side effects of the medicine
| Side effects that should be reported to the doctor immediately | |
|---|---|
| Severe allergies | Skin rash, itching, swelling of the lips/tongue/face, difficulty breathing. |
| Central nervous system depression (CNS depression) | Slow or shallow breathing, excessive sleepiness, confusion, and difficulty waking up. |
| Mental changes | Suicidal thoughts, depression, agitation. |
| Side effects that should be reported to the doctor if they persist or are bothersome | |
| Dizziness | Drowsiness |
| Headache | Nausea |
Take-Home Message
- Phenobarbital is an important medication for controlling seizures that should only be used under the advice of a doctor.
- Take the correct dose at the correct time. Do not measure with teaspoons at home.
- Never stop taking the medication suddenly without consulting your doctor. Doing so may worsen the seizure.
- Avoid drinking alcohol completely while taking the medication.
- Avoid driving and risky activities as drowsiness may occur.
- Tell your doctor about all other medications you are taking.
- If you notice anything like severe skin rash or mental changes, seek medical advice immediately.
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