💊 Phenobarbitone Tablet 30 mg
📌 1. Prescription / Indications:
Phenobarbitone (also known as Phenobarbital) 30 mg tablets are prescribed for:
- Epilepsy: Especially for generalized tonic-clonic and partial seizures
- Status epilepticus (maintenance after emergency control)
- Sedative/hypnotic use (rarely, and with caution)
- Neonatal seizures
- Sometimes used in alcohol withdrawal protocols
📄 2. Description:
- Form: Oral tablet
- Strength: 30 mg of Phenobarbitone per tablet
- Color: Typically white or off-white, round or flat tablets
- Route: Oral
- Onset of action: 30–60 minutes
- Duration: Long-acting (half-life 2–5 days)
🔬 3. Nature / Drug Class:
- Drug class: Barbiturate (long-acting)
- Mechanism of Action: Enhances GABA-mediated inhibition → CNS depression
- Raises seizure threshold
- Decreases spread of seizure activity
🌟 4. Advantages:
- Effective and inexpensive anti-seizure medication
- Long duration of action — allows once or twice daily dosing
- Used for both maintenance and acute seizure control
- Pediatric-friendly (used in neonates and children)
📦 5. Common Packaging:
| Package Type | Contents |
|---|
| Blister pack | 10 or 15 tablets per strip |
| Box | 100 tablets or more |
| Bulk container | 500–1000 tablets (institutional) |
🧊 6. Storage Conditions:
- Store at 15–30°C (59–86°F)
- Keep away from light and moisture
- Keep out of reach of children
- Store in a tightly closed container
👩⚕️ 7. Patient Advice:
- Take exactly as prescribed; do not skip or double doses
- May cause drowsiness, dizziness, or impaired concentration
- Avoid alcohol or sedatives — increases risk of respiratory depression
- Do not stop suddenly — may cause withdrawal seizures
- Notify your doctor if:
- You feel excessively drowsy
- You develop rash, fever, or jaundice
- You become pregnant or plan to
🎯 8. Purpose / Clinical Use:
| Condition | Purpose |
|---|
| Epilepsy (generalized) | Long-term seizure control |
| Neonatal seizures | First-line agent |
| Status epilepticus | Follow-up after acute treatment |
| Sedation | Rare and tightly regulated use |
⚠️ 9. Warnings / Precautions:
- CNS depression risk: Do not combine with other depressants
- Dependence and withdrawal with long-term use
- Risk of cognitive impairment in children with prolonged use
- Liver enzyme inducer — may affect other drugs’ metabolism
- Pregnancy Category D: Risk of fetal harm, but may be necessary
