💊 Phenobarbitone Tablet 60 mg
📌 1. Prescription / Indications:
Phenobarbitone 60 mg tablets are prescribed for:
- Epilepsy (generalized tonic-clonic and partial seizures)
- Prevention of febrile seizures (in select cases)
- Neonatal and pediatric seizures (adjusted dose)
- Status epilepticus maintenance after acute control
- Occasionally used in sedation protocols (less common)
📄 2. Description:
- Form: Oral tablet
- Strength: 60 mg Phenobarbitone
- Appearance: Typically white or light-colored, round tablets
- Route: Oral
- Pharmacokinetics:
- Onset: 30–60 minutes
- Half-life: 2–5 days (long-acting)
- Duration: 10–12 hours or more
🔬 3. Nature / Drug Class:
- Class: Barbiturate (long-acting anticonvulsant)
- Mechanism of Action: Enhances GABAergic inhibition and suppresses abnormal neuronal discharges
- Type: Central Nervous System (CNS) depressant
🌟 4. Advantages:
- Highly effective in seizure control
- Low cost and widely available
- Allows once-daily dosing due to long half-life
- Useful for chronic epilepsy and pediatric seizures
- Proven track record of efficacy in developing and resource-limited settings
📦 5. Common Packaging:
| Packaging | Details |
|---|
| Blister packs | 10, 15, or 20 tablets per strip |
| Bottle packs | 100 tablets (bulk/institutional) |
| Hospital packs | Box of 100–500 tablets |
🧊 6. Storage Conditions:
- Store at 15–30°C
- Keep in a dry place, protected from light and moisture
- Use child-resistant containers
- Follow expiry date strictly
👩⚕️ 7. Patient Advice:
- Take tablets at the same time daily to maintain blood levels
- May cause drowsiness or slowed reflexes – avoid driving
- Do not abruptly stop; tapering is required to avoid seizures
- Avoid alcohol, sedatives, or other CNS depressants
- Notify doctor of:
- Persistent sedation
- Skin rash or fever
- Mood changes or behavioral issues
- If pregnant or breastfeeding, consult doctor immediately
🎯 8. Purpose / Clinical Use:
| Indication | Use |
|---|
| Epilepsy | Maintenance therapy |
| Febrile seizures (rare use) | Prevent recurrence |
| Neonatal seizures | Dose-adjusted use |
| Status epilepticus (post-acute) | Maintenance |
| Sedation | Occasional off-label use |
⚠️ 9. Warnings / Precautions:
- Dependence risk with long-term use
- Cognitive and behavioral side effects in children
- Respiratory depression at high doses or when mixed with depressants
- May alter metabolism of other drugs (CYP450 inducer)
- Pregnancy risk (Category D) – possible teratogenic effects, but benefit may outweigh risk in epilepsy
