(FEE-NO-BARB-IT-TALL)
CONTENT
 | Purpose of Phenobarbital |
| Side effects |
| Giving the medicine |
| Missed or vomited dose |
| How long to give the Phenobarbital |
| Call the doctor if… |
| Special instructions |
| The prescription |
1. It helps control seizures.
2. Phenobarbital is called a barbiturate. It requires a doctor’s prescription to purchase it from a pharmacy.
1. Drowsiness (especially 2-4 hours after giving)
2. Nausea and vomiting
3. Increased activity in some babies
4. Skin rashes
5. Slow or shallow breathing.
1. Draw the medicine up in a syringe.
2. Always give medicine in about ½ ounce of formula or breast milk to prevent choking the baby and to prevent stomach upset.
1. The medicine should be given as ordered by the baby’s doctor.
2. If you forget a dose give the medicine at the next regularly scheduled time.
3. Do not make up for a missed dose by doubling or increasing the next dose.
4. One missed dose is usually not a problem.
5. If the baby vomits the dose or you have any questions, CALL THE BABY’S DOCTOR FOR INSTRUCTIONS AND ASSISTANCE.
1. Give the medicine until the doctor tells you that your baby does not need it any longer.
2. Do not stop the Phenobarbital without a doctor’s order.
3. Some babies will stay on Phenobarbital for a longer time than others.
4. Some babies are allowed to outgrow the medicine.
5. Some babies will need an EEG (electroencephalogram) or brain wave tracing when the doctor decides to change or stop the Phenobarbital. The doctor will tell you if your baby needs this test.
1. Your baby has a seizure (stiffening, jerking or “rowing” movements of arms and legs; arching of the back; unusual drooling, lip smacking, sucking; eyes rolling back in head; jerking of eyes; stops breathing—rare).
2. Your baby vomits the medicine.
3. Your baby becomes very sleepy and cannot be awakened.
4. Your baby’s breathing pattern changes.
1. KEEP ALL MEDICINES OUT OF REACH OF CHILDREN.
2. Always give the amount of medicine ordered by the doctor.
3. DO NOT increase the dose without a doctor’s order even if your baby has a seizure.
4. Store Phenobarbital at room temperature. Do not refrigerate.
1. If your baby is going home on Phenobarbital you may be given a prescription to fill when the baby is discharged.
· Please make sure you have some medicine for the baby’s next dose when the baby leaves the hospital.
2. Always check the medicine when you get it from the pharmacy (drug store).
3. It should be labeled with the same name and same dosage that your baby was getting in the hospital.
4. The medicine’s instruction will tell you:
a. The mg’s and cc’s to give (mg=milligrams)
b. How to give the medicine
c. How often to give the medicine
5. Use a 1 cc or a 3 cc syringe to draw up this medicine. You will be given at least one syringe to take home.
6. Parents should always keep at least a week’s supply of each of the baby’s medicines on hand.
7. Call your baby’s doctor if more medicine is needed and you do not have a refill on the prescription.
8. A drugstore pharmacist may also be able to help you obtain refills.
Reviewed/Revised:
4/1998, 3/01, 2/03, 10/05, 8/07
