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When taking this medication, it is crucial to be aware of several important safety considerations and potential interactions. Here are key points to keep in mind:

• Drug Interactions: This medication may interact with several other drugs. Some notable interactions include:

  • Darunavir, potassium tablets/capsules, sodium oxybate, and drugs affected by slowed gut movement such as pramlintide.
  • It can alter the absorption of medications like griseofulvin, certain azole anti-fungal drugs (ketoconazole, itraconazole), and certain forms of digoxin.
  • Other substances, including St. John's wort, may affect how phenobarbital is processed by your body, altering its effectiveness.
  • Phenobarbital may expedite the elimination of other drugs, potentially reducing their effectiveness. Affected drugs include artemether/lumefantrine, atazanavir, cobicistat, etravirine, lurasidone, ranolazine, rilpivirine, sofosbuvir, sorafenib, voriconazole, and some calcium channel blockers like felodipine and nimodipine.

• Impact on Birth Control: This medication may reduce the effectiveness of hormonal contraceptives such as pills, patches, or rings, increasing the risk of pregnancy. Consult your healthcare provider to discuss alternative reliable birth control methods. Notify your doctor if you experience any unusual spotting or bleeding, as this could indicate reduced effectiveness of your birth control.

• Increased Risk of Side Effects: The potential for serious side effects, such as significantly slowed or shallow breathing and severe drowsiness or dizziness, may be heightened when used in conjunction with other substances that cause drowsiness or breathing issues. These include:

  • Opioid pain or cough medications (e.g., codeine, hydrocodone)
  • Alcohol
  • Marijuana (cannabis)
  • Sleep or anxiety medications (e.g., alprazolam, lorazepam, zolpidem)
  • Muscle relaxants (e.g., carisoprodol, cyclobenzaprine)
  • Antihistamines (e.g., cetirizine, diphenhydramine)

• Use with Caution: Check all medication labels (including allergy, cough-and-cold products, and diet aids) for ingredients that may cause drowsiness or a fast heartbeat. Consult your pharmacist for safe usage.

• Avoid Certain Medications: Do not use primidone while taking phenobarbital as they are very similar.

• Potential Lab Test Interference: This medication may interfere with certain laboratory tests, such as gastric secretion tests, possibly resulting in false test outcomes. Ensure that all healthcare personnel are informed about your use of this drug.

Following these guidelines can help minimize risks and ensure safe use of the medication. Always consult with your healthcare provider for personalized advice.

Common side effects:

• dizziness
• drowsiness
• weakness
• blurred vision
• dry eyes
• dry mouth
• nausea
• constipation
• abdominal bloating

Less common but important to monitor:

• decreased sweating
• dry or hot skin
• fast or irregular heartbeat
• loss of coordination
• trouble speaking
• fainting
• mental or mood changes such as confusion or depression
• difficulty urinating
• decreased sexual ability
• signs of anemia like unusual tiredness or pale skin
• easy bruising or bleeding

Serious side effects:

• eye pain or changes in vision
• slow or shallow breathing
• severe allergic reactions including fever, swollen lymph nodes, rash, itching, swelling, severe dizziness, and trouble breathing

Phenobarbital can interact with several other products and medications. It may interact with drugs like Darunavir, potassium tablets or capsules, sodium oxybate, and medications that are affected by slowed gut movement, such as pramlintide. Phenobarbital can alter the absorption of other medicines including griseofulvin, certain antifungal drugs like Ketoconazole and Itraconazole, as well as slowly dissolving forms of Digoxin.

Some medications, like St. John's wort, may affect how phenobarbital is removed from your body, potentially impacting its effectiveness. Conversely, phenobarbital can increase the elimination rate of other drugs, which might reduce their efficacy. These drugs include artemether/lumefantrine, Atazanavir, cobicistat, etravirine, Lurasidone, ranolazine, rilpivirine, sofosbuvir, sorafenib, Voriconazole, and certain calcium channel blockers such as felodipine and Nimodipine.

Phenobarbital may also reduce the effectiveness of hormonal birth control methods, like pills, patches, or rings, increasing the risk of pregnancy. It's important to discuss with your healthcare provider about using additional contraceptive methods. Notify your doctor if you experience any unusual spotting or breakthrough bleeding, as these may indicate that your birth control is less effective.

Taking phenobarbital with other substances that cause drowsiness or breathing difficulties can heighten the risk of severe side effects, such as slow or shallow breathing, and significant drowsiness or dizziness. Inform your healthcare provider if you are using opioid pain or cough relievers (e.g., codeine, Hydrocodone), alcohol, marijuana, other sleep or anxiety medications (e.g., Alprazolam, Lorazepam, Zolpidem), muscle relaxants (e.g., Carisoprodol, Cyclobenzaprine), or antihistamines (e.g., Cetirizine, diphenhydramine).

Check all your medications, including those for allergies, cough, cold, or diet, as they may contain ingredients that cause drowsiness or rapid heartbeat. Consult your pharmacist for safe usage of these products.

Avoid using medications containing Primidone while on phenobarbital, as they are very similar. Lastly, phenobarbital can interfere with certain laboratory tests, such as those assessing gastric secretion, potentially leading to inaccurate results. Ensure that all healthcare professionals involved in your care are aware that you are taking this medication.