Phenobarbital Drug Information for Dogs and Cats

Quick Info:

 

• Drug name: Phenobarbital
• Common name: Epiphen, Phenobarb, Solfoton, Luminal, generics
• Drug type: Barbiturate
• Used for: Seizure control
• Species: Dog + cat
• Formulation: Injectable, tablets, oral solution

 

Name – Active Ingredient:

 

• Phenobarbital

 

Name – Common Trade Names:

 

• Epiphen, Phenobarb, Solfoton, Luminal, generics

 

Species:

 

   

 

Major Indication:

 

• Anti-epileptic, anti-seizure drug
• Sedative

 

Common Contraindications and Warnings:

 

• Use with caution in patients that are dehydrated, anaemic, pregnant or lactating, or have heart or lung disease.
• Do not use when liver function is impaired.

 

Potential Side Effects:

 

• Sedation and wobbliness are frequently seen when treatment is started. These typically resolve within a week unless high doses are given.
• Raised liver enzymes are common but do not generally indicate liver dysfunction.
• Rare side effects include excitability, liver damage/failure, blood cell disorders, and skin disease.

 

Administration Instructions/Handling:

 

• Give with or without food. If vomiting is seen when given without food, try giving with food instead.
• Give entire course as instructed by your veterinarian (even if the pet seems 100% recovered).
• Do not skip doses or suddenly stop treatment, as this may result in seizures. If a dose is missed, give at the earliest opportunity and then again when next due.

 

Storage:

 

• It takes 12 to 14 days in dogs and 9 to 10 days in cats for blood levels to stabilize and the full ability of the drug dose to be evaluated.
• Regular blood testing should be carried out to:
  • Monitor the level of phenobarbital in the blood as this level tends to decrease with time, meaning a higher dose may be required
  • Ensure liver damage is not occurring
• Monitor seizure frequency and severity – keep a seizure diary.

 

Speed of Action + Monitoring:

 

• Antibiotics start working straight away, but it can take several days for an effect to be seen depending on the type of infection and how long it has been present.
• If your pet is not recovering, then culture and sensitivity testing may be needed (if it has not already been carried out) or the diagnosis re-evaluated.

 

REMEMBER! READ THE LABEL!

 

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