• Seizures excluding absence seizures
    • Tablet:
      • Adult: 60-180mg nocte
      • Children: 5-8mg/kg
    • IV/IM:
      • 300-800 mg OR 15-20 mg/kg/dose
  • Status epilepticus (after benzodiazepines and phenytoin fail):
    • IV: 10-20 mg/kg every 20 min PRN. Max per dose: 1 g. Dose to be administered at a rate not more than 100 mg/minute. Injection to be diluted 1 in 10 with water for injection.
  • Sedation:
    • 30-120 mg/day PO BD/TDS. Max 400 mg/day
  • Insomnia:
    • 100-200 mg PO nocte. Max 400 mg/day

Injection: 200mg/ml

Tablet: 30mg

To be taken at night.

CAUTION:

Women of child-bearing potential.

Barbiturate anticonvulsant.

It may have the ability to enhance the inhibitory synaptic action of GABA.

  • Respiratory depression with IV
  • Drowsiness
  • Lethargy
  • Hyperactivity with pediatric patients.
  • Fatigue
  • Ataxia
  • Erythema multiforme
  • Stevens-Johnson syndrome
  • Withdrawal symptoms with abrupt discontinuation
  • Dependence
  • Excitement, confusion and depression in geriatric patients
  • Hypersensitivity to excipients
  • Porphyria
  • Severe hepatic impairment
  • Respiratory depression
  • Intra-arterial depression
  • History of addiction on sedative-hypnotics
  • Large doses in nephritic patients
  • Artemether/lumefantrine
  • Atazanavir
  • Praziquantel
  • Voriconazole
  • Mexiletine
  • Phenylbutazone
  • Metronidazole
  • Ritonavir
  • Tenofovir

                                   Drug Status

Availability Prescription only
Pregnancy Category D; Contraindicated
Breastfeeding Do not nurse
Schedule Controlled
BRAND NAME STRENGTH FORMULATION PACK SIZE MANUFACTURER DISTRIBUTOR
Barbit 200mg/mL Injection 5’s Incepta Pharma Radiance Pharma
Phenbital 30mg Tablet 100’s, 1000’s Dawa Ltd Dawa Ltd
Phenobarb 30mg Tablet 1000’s Universal Corporation Universal Corporation
Phenobarbital 30mg Tablet 100’s Cosmos Ltd Cosmos Ltd
Phenobarbitone 30mg Tablet 100’s, 1000’s Biodeal Labs Biodeal Labs
Phenobarbitone 30mg Tablet 100’s Laboratory & Allied Laboratory & Allied