Phenobarbital Elixir

Phenobarbital Elixir

PHENOBARBITAL ELIXIR

(FEE-NO-BARB-IT-TALL)

CONTENT

Purpose of Phenobarbital

Side effects

Giving the medicine

Missed or vomited dose

How long to give Phenobarbital

Call the doctor if…

Special instructions

The prescription

PURPOSE OF PHENOBARBITAL

  1. Phenobarbital helps control seizures.
  1. Phenobarbital is called a barbiturate (bar-bit-u-ate). It requires a doctor’s prescription to purchase it from a pharmacy.

SIDE EFFECTS

  1. Drowsiness, especially 2—4 hours after giving the medicine.
  1. Nausea and vomiting.
  1. Increased activity in some babies.
  1. Skin rashes.
  1. Slow or shallow breathing.

GIVING THE MEDICINE

  1. Draw the medicine up in a syringe.
  1. Always give the medicine in about ½ ounce of formula to prevent choking and to prevent stomach upset.

MISSED OR VOMITED DOSES

  1. The medicine should be given as ordered by the baby’s doctor.
  1. If you forget a dose give the medicine at the next regularly scheduled time.
  1. Do not make up for a missed dose by doubling or increasing the next dose.
  1. One missed dose is usually not a problem.
  1. If the baby vomits the medicine, CALL THE BABY’S DOCTOR FOR INSTRUCTIONS AND ASSISTANCE.

HOW LONG TO GIVE PHENOBARBITAL

  1. Do not stop giving the Phenobarbital without talking with your baby’s doctor. He will tell you when to stop the medicine.
  1. Some babies will stay on Phenobarbital for a longer time than other infants.
  1. Some babies are allowed to outgrow the medicine.
  1. Some babies will need an EEG (electroencephalogram) or brain wave tracing when he doctor decides to change or stop the Phenobarbital. The doctor will tell you if your baby needs this test.

CALL THE DOCTOR IF…

  1. Your baby has a seizure

a.Stiffening

b.Jerking or “rowing” movement of arms and legs

c.Arching of the back

d.Unusual drooling

e.Lip smacking

f.Sucking movements

g.Jerking of the eyes—or—eyes rolling up or back in the head

h.Stops breathing, which is rare.

2.Your baby vomits the medicine.

3.Your baby becomes very sleepy and you cannot wake him/her up.

4.Your baby’s breathing pattern changes.

SPECIAL INSTRUCTIONS

  1. KEEP ALL MEDICINES OUT OF THE REACH OF CHILDREN.
  1. Always give the amount of medicine ordered by the doctor.
  1. Do not increase the dose without a doctor’s order even if your baby has a seizure.. Call the baby’s doctor.
  1. Phenobarbital can be stored at room temperature. Do not refrigerate.
  1. Medicines have an expiration date printed on their label:

a.Discard an opened bottle of medicine at the expiration date printed on the label

b.If the bottle does not have a expiration date printed on the label, discard the medicine 90 days after opening the bottle.

THE PRESCRIPTION

  1. If your baby is going home on Phenobarbital you may be given a prescription to fill before the baby is discharged.

a.Please make sure you have some medicine for the baby’s next dose when the baby is discharged from the hospital.

  1. Always check the medicine when you get it from the pharmacy (drug store.)
  1. It should be labeled with the same name and same dosage that your baby was getting in the hospital.
  1. The medicine’s instructions will tell you:

a.The mg’s or cc’s to give (mg=milligrams)

b.How to give the medicine

c.How often to give the medicine.

  1. 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.
  1. Parents always keep at least a week’s supply of each medicine on hand.
  1. Call your baby’s doctor if more medicine is needed and you do not have a refill on the prescription.
  1. The local drugstore pharmacist may be able to help you obtain refills.

Reviewed/Revised: 04/98…..06/13

Phenobarbital 1

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