What is Phenobarbital Sodium: Uses, Warnings & Interactions

How to take Phenobarbital Sodium

• A nurse or other healthcare provider will give you this medicine through a needle placed into your vein or a shot into your muscle.

• A nurse or other healthcare provider will give you this medicine through a needle placed into your vein or a shot into your muscle.

What to do if you miss a dose of Phenobarbital Sodium

Phenobarbital Sodium contraindications

• This medicine is not right for everyone. You should not use it if you had an allergic reaction to phenobarbital or to other barbiturate drugs. Do not use this medicine if you are pregnant, or if you have a history of porphyria.

Phenobarbital Sodium warnings

• It is not safe to take this medicine during pregnancy. It could harm an unborn baby. Tell your doctor right away if you become pregnant.

• Tell your doctor if you are breastfeeding or have liver disease. Also tell him if you have ever had depression, thoughts about suicide, or a drug addiction.

• This medicine can be habit-forming. Do not use more than your prescribed dose. Call your doctor if you think your medicine is not working.

• Do not stop using this medicine suddenly. Your doctor will need to slowly decrease your dose before you stop it completely.

• This medicine may make you dizzy or drowsy. Do not drive or use machines until you know how this medicine affects you.

• Slurred speech, trouble walking, or tremors

Phenobarbital Sodium interactions

• Some medicines can affect how phenobarbital works. Tell your doctor if you are using phenytoin, disulfiram, an MAO inhibitor (MAOI), valproic acid, digitoxin, steroid medicine, doxycycline, griseofulvin, sodium valproate, or a blood thinner (such as warfarin).

• Birth control pills may not work as well while you use this medicine. You may want to use a second form of birth control.

• Do not drink alcohol. This medicine can intensify the effects of alcohol or any other medicine that makes you sleepy, such as allergy medicine.

• Do not stop using this medicine suddenly. Your doctor will need to slowly decrease your dose before you stop it completely.

• This medicine may make you dizzy or drowsy. Do not drive or use machines until you know how this medicine affects you.