Barbiturates

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Brand & Generic Names

Alurate	Lotusate Caplets
Amaphen	Luminal
AMOBARBITAL	Mebaral
Amytal	Medigesic
Ancalixir	MEPHOBARBITAL
Anolor-300	METHARBITAL
Anoquan	Nembutal
APROBARBITAL	Nova Rectal
Axotal	Novopentobarb
Bancap	Novosecobarb
Barbita	Pacaps
Bucet	PENTOBARBITAL
Busodium	PHENOBARBITAL
BUTALBITAL	Repan
BUTABARBITAL	Sarisol No. 2
Butace	SECOBARBITAL
Butalan	SECOBARBITAL AND
Butisol	AMOBARBITAL
Dolmar	Seconal
Endolor	Sedapap
Esgic	Solfoton
Ezol	TALBUTAL
Femcet	Tencet
Floricet	Triad
G-1	Triaprin
Gemonil	Tuinal
Isocet	Two-Dyne
Isopap

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BASIC INFORMATION

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• Habit forming? Yes
• Prescription needed? Yes
• Available as generic? Yes
• Drug class: Sedative, hypnotic (barbiturate), anticonvulsant

USES

• Relieves insomnia (higher bedtime dose).
• Prevents convulsions or seizures, such as epilepsy.

DOSAGE & USAGE INFORMATION

How to take:

• Tablet, liquid or capsule -- Swallow with liquid or food to lessen stomach irritation. If you can't swallow whole, crumble tablet or open capsule and take with liquid or food.
• When to take: At the same times each day.
• If you forget a dose: Take as soon as you remember up to 2 hours late. If more than 2 hours, wait for next scheduled dose (don't double this dose).
• What drug does: May partially block nerve impulses at nerve-cell connections.
• Time lapse before drug works: 60 minutes.
• Don't take with: Any other medicines, even over-the-counter drugs such as cough and cold medicines, nose drops, diet pills, laxatives or caffeine, without consulting your doctor.

OVERDOSE

• SYMPTOMS: Deep sleep, weak pulse, coma.
• WHAT TO DO: Dial 0 (operator) or 911 (emergency) for an ambulance or medical help. Then give first aid immediately.

POSSIBLE ADVERSE REACTIONS OR SIDE EFFECTS

SYMPTOMS WHAT TO DO

• Life-threatening: Hives, rash, intense Seek emergency itching, faintness treatment immediately. soon after a dose (anaphylaxis).
• Common: Dizziness, drowsiness, Continue. Call doctor "hangover" effect. when convenient.
• Infrequent: Rash or hives, face Discontinue. Call or lip swelling, doctor right away. swollen eyelids, sore throat, fever. Depression, Continue. Call doctor confusion, slurred when convenient. speech, diarrhea, nausea, vomiting, joint or muscle pain.
• Rare: Agitation, slow Discontinue. Call heartbeat, difficult doctor right away. breathing, jaundice. Unexplained bleeding Continue. Call doctor or bruising. when convenient.

WARNINGS & PRECAUTIONS

Don't take if:

• You are allergic to any barbiturate.
• You have porphyria.

Before you start, consult your doctor:

• If you have epilepsy.
• If you have kidney or liver damage.
• If you have asthma.
• If you have anemia.
• If you have chronic pain.
• If you will have surgery within 2 months, including dental surgery, requiring general or spinal anesthesia.

Pregnancy: Risk to unborn child outweighs drug benefits. Don't use. Infants & children: Use only under doctor's supervision.
Prolonged use:

• May cause addiction, anemia, chronic intoxication.
• May lower body temperature, making exposure to cold temperatures hazardous. Skin & sunlight: May cause rash or intensify sunburn in areas exposed to sun or sunlamp.

Driving or hazardous activities:

• Don't drive or pilot aircraft until you learn how medicine affects you. Don't work around dangerous machinery. Don't climb ladders or work in high places. Danger increases if you drink alcohol or take medicine affecting alertness and reflexes.
• Discontinuing: May be unnecessary to finish medicine. Follow doctor's instructions. If you develop withdrawal symptoms of hallucinations, agitation or sleeplessness after discontinuing, call doctor right away.
• Others: Great potential for abuse.

Possible Interaction with Other Drugs

GENERIC NAME	COMBINED EFFECT
------------------------	------------------------
Anticoagulants,	Decreased effect of
oral	anticoagulant.
Anticonvulsants	Changed seizure patterns.
Antidepressants,	Decreased anti-
tricyclics (TCA)	depressant effect. Possible
	dangerous oversedation.
Antidiabetics,	Increased effect of
oral	barbituate.
Antihistamines	Dangerous sedation. Avoid.
Aspirin	Decreased aspirin effect.
Beta-adrenergic	Decreased effect
blockers	of beta-adrenergic blocker.
Carbamazepine	Decreased carbamazepine effect.
Carteolol	Increased barbiturate effect.
	Dangerous sedation.
Clozapine	Toxic effect on the central nervous
	system.
Contraceptives,	Decreased contraceptive effect.
Cortisone drugs	Decreased cortisone effect.
Dextrothyroxine	Decreased barbiturate effect.
Divalproex	Dangerous sedation. Avoid.
Doxycycline	Decreased doxycycline effect.
Griseofulvin	Decreased griseofulvin effect.
MAO inhibitors	Increased barbituate effect.
Mind-altering drugs	Dangerous sedation. Avoid.
Nabilone	Greater depression of
	central nervous system.
Narcotics	Dangerous sedation. Avoid.
Pain relievers	Dangerous sedation. Avoid.
Sedatives	Dangerous sedation. Avoid.
Sertraline	Increased depressive effects of both
	drugs.
Sleep inducers	Dangerous sedation. Avoid.
Sotalol	Increased barbiturate effect.
	Dangerous sedation.
Tranquilizers	Dangerous sedation. Avoid.
Valproic acid	Increased barbituate effect.

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Possible Interaction with Other Substances

INTERACTS WITH	COMBINED EFFECT
------------------------	------------------------
Alcohol:	Possible fatal oversedation. Avoid.
Beverages:	None expected.
Cocaine:	Decreased barbiturate effect.
Foods:	None expected.
Marijuana:	Excessive sedation. Avoid.
Tobacco:	None expected.

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From the Complete Guide to Pediatric Symptoms, Illness & Medications by H. Winter Griffith, M.D. © 1989 The Putnam Berkley Group, Inc.; electronic rights by Medical Data Exchange