Phenobarbitone: profile and news

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Other information

Indication
For the treatment of Epilepsy

Pharmacology
Phenobarbital, the longest-acting barbiturate, is used for its anticonvulsant and sedative-hypnotic properties in the management of all seizure disorders except absence (petit mal).

Mechanism Of Action
Phenobarbital acts on GABAA receptors, increasing synaptic inhibition. This has the effect of elevating seizure threshold and reducing the spread of seizure activity from a seizure focus. Phenobarbital may also inhibit calcium channels, resulting in a decrease in excitatory transmitter release. The sedative-hypnotic effects of phenobarbital are likely the result of its effect on the polysynaptic midbrain reticular formation, which controls CNS arousal.

Drug Category
Hypnotics and Sedatives; Anticonvulsants;

Brand Names/Synonyms
Adonal; Aephenal; Agrypnal; Amylofene; Aphenylbarbit; Aphenyletten; Barbenyl; Barbinal; Barbiphen; Barbiphenyl; Barbipil; Barbita; Barbivis; Barbonal; Barbophen; Bardorm; Bartol; Bialminal; Blu-Phen; Cabronal; Calmetten; Calminal; Cardenal; Chinoin; Codibarbita; Coronaletta; Cratecil; Damoral; Dezibarbitur; Dormina; Dormiral; Dormital; Doscalun; Duneryl; Ensobarb; Ensodorm; Epanal; Epidorm; Epilol; Episedal; Epsylone; Eskabarb; Etilfen; Euneryl; Fenbital; Fenemal; Fenobarbital; Fenosed; Fenylettae; Gardenal; Gardepanyl; Glysoletten; Haplopan; Haplos; Helional; Hennoletten; Henotal; Hypnaletten; Hypnette; Hypno-Tablinetten; Hypnogen; Hypnolone; Hypnoltol; Hysteps; Lefebar; Leonal; Lephebar; Lepinal; Lepinaletten; Linasen; Liquital; Lixophen; Lubergal; Lubrokal; Lumen; Lumesettes; Lumesyn; Luminal; Lumofridetten; Luphenil; Luramin; Molinal; Neurobarb; Nirvonal; Noptil; Nova-Pheno; Nunol; Parkotal; Pharmetten; Phen-Bar; Phenaemal; Phenemal; Phenemalum; Phenobal; Phenobarbital; Phenobarbitol; Phenobarbitone; Phenobarbituric Acid; Phenobarbyl; Phenoluric; Phenolurio; Phenomet; Phenonyl; Phenoturic; Phenylethylbarbiturate; Phenylethylbarbituric Acid; Phenylethylmalonylurea; Phenyletten; Phenyral; Phob; Polcominal; Promptonal; Seda-Tablinen; Sedabar; Sedicat; Sedizorin; Sedlyn; Sedofen; Sedonal; Sedonettes; Sevenal; Sinoratox; Sk-Phenobarbital; Solfoton; Solfoton Talpheno; Solu-Barb; Sombutol; Somnolens; Somnoletten; Somnosan; Somonal; Spasepilin; Starifen; Starilettae; Stental; Stental Extentabs; Talpheno; Teolaxin; Teoloxin; Thenobarbital; Theoloxin; Triabarb; Tridezibarbitur; Triphenatol; Versomnal; Zadoletten; Zadonal

Dosage Forms
Tablets and Elixir

Absorption
absorbed in varying degrees following oral, rectal or parenteral administration. The salts are more rapidly absorbed than are the acids. The rate of absorption is increased if the sodium salt is ingested as a dilute solution or taken on an empty stomach

Interactions