Mebaral

Generic Name: mephobarbital
Other Brand Names: mephobarbital

What is mephobarbital?

Mephobarbital is in a class of drugs called barbiturates (bar bi TURE ates). Mephobarbital depresses the activity of your brain and nervous system.

Mephobarbital is used to relieve anxiety, tension, and apprehension by inducing sedation, and to prevent seizures.

Mephobarbital may also be used for purposes other than those listed in this medication guide.

Uses Side Effects Precautions Interactions Overdose
What should I discuss with my healthcare provider before taking mephobarbital?

Do not take mephobarbital if you have

  • porphyria,

  • liver disease,

  • kidney disease, or

  • severe respiratory disease such as severe asthma or severe chronic obstructive pulmonary disorder (COPD).

Before taking this medication, tell your doctor if you have ever had a drug or alcohol addiction in the past. Mephobarbital is habit forming, which means that you can become addicted to it.

Mephobarbital is in the FDA pregnancy category D. This means that it is known to harm an unborn baby. Do not take mephobarbital if you are pregnant. However, if you take mephobarbital to control seizures, do not abruptly stop taking this medication, because a seizure could occur, and this could be more harmful to an unborn baby. Talk to your doctor about treatment during pregnancy.

Mephobarbital passes into breast milk and could affect a nursing infant. Do not take mephobarbital without first talking to your doctor if you are breast-feeding a baby.

Mephobarbital may cause excitement, irritability, aggression, depression, or confusion— particularly in children and in adults over 60 years of age. Lower doses and close monitoring may be necessary.

How should I take mephobarbital?

Take mephobarbital exactly as directed by your doctor. If you do not understand these directions, ask your pharmacist, nurse, or doctor to explain them to you.

Take each dose with a full glass of water.

To treat seizures, mephobarbital may be taken several times a day. Do not stop taking this medicine even if you are feeling well because stopping abruptly could cause a severe seizure.

To relieve anxiety, tension, and apprehension, mephobarbital may be taken several times a day at regular intervals.

Do not increase your dosage of this medicine without the approval of your doctor. If your symptoms are not being adequately treated, talk to your doctor.

Store mephobarbital at room temperature away from moisture and heat.

What happens if I miss a dose of mephobarbital?

Take the missed dose as soon as you remember. However, if it is almost time for your next regularly scheduled dose, skip the missed dose and take the next one as directed. Do not take a double dose of this medication.

Where can I get more information about mephobarbital?
Your pharmacist has information about mephobarbital written for health professionals that you may read.
What are the possible side effects of mephobarbital?

If you experience any of the following serious side effects, stop taking mephobarbital and seek emergency medical attention or call your doctor immediately:

  • an allergic reaction (difficulty breathing; closing of your throat; swelling of your lips, tongue, or face; or hives);

  • a fever or a sore throat;

  • sores in your mouth;

  • broken blood vessels under your skin; or

  • easy bruising or bleeding.

Other, less serious side effects may be more likely to occur. Continue to take mephobarbital and talk to your doctor if you experience

  • drowsiness or dizziness;

  • confusion;

  • agitation, irritability, or excitability;

  • nightmares, nervousness, or anxiety;

  • headache; or

  • "hangover” effect (drowsiness the day after a dose).

Mephobarbital is habit forming, which means that you can become addicted to it. Your doctor will want to monitor how much medicine you are taking. Your dosage may have to be reduced slowly to prevent withdrawal effects.

Side effects other than those listed here may also occur. Talk to your doctor about any side effect that seems unusual or that is especially bothersome.

What is the most important information I should know about mephobarbital?

Call your doctor immediately if you develop a fever, a sore throat, sores in your mouth, broken blood vessels under your skin, or easy bruising or bleeding. These could be early signs of a serious side effect.

Use caution when driving, operating machinery, or performing other hazardous activities. Mephobarbital will cause drowsiness. If you experience drowsiness, avoid these activities.

Do not drink alcohol or take other sleep medicines, antihistamines, narcotic pain relievers, or other drugs that also cause drowsiness unless your doctor approves. Dangerous sedation could result.

Mephobarbital may decrease the effectiveness of birth control pills. Use a second method of birth control to prevent pregnancy.

What should I avoid while taking mephobarbital?

Use caution when driving, operating machinery, or performing other hazardous activities. Mephobarbital will cause drowsiness. If you experience drowsiness, avoid these activities.

Do not drink alcohol or take other sleep medicines, antihistamines, narcotic pain relievers, or other medicines that cause drowsiness unless your doctor approves. Dangerous sedation could result.

Do not increase your dosage of this medicine without the approval of your doctor. If your symptoms are not being adequately treated, talk to your doctor.

Mephobarbital may decrease the effectiveness of birth control pills. Use a second method of birth control while taking mephobarbital to prevent pregnancy.

What other drugs will affect mephobarbital?

Large chronic doses of mephobarbital may cause liver damage if it is taken with acetaminophen (Tylenol, others). Tell your doctor and pharmacist if you are taking mephobarbital on a regular basis. Pain and fever reducers other than acetaminophen are available and may be more suitable choices.

Mephobarbital may decrease the effectiveness of many drugs, including the following:

  • blood thinners such as warfarin (Coumadin). Blood clotting could result.

  • carbamazepine (Tegretol) and clonazepam (Klonopin). Reduced effectiveness of these medicines could lead to poor seizure control.

  • birth control pills. Breakthrough bleeding or unplanned pregnancy could result. Use of a second form of birth control is recommended.

  • steroid medicines such as hydrocortisone (Cortef, Hydrocortone), prednisone (Orasone, Deltasone), prednisolone (Prelone, Delta Cortef), methylprednisolone (Medrol), and others.

  • felodipine (Plendil), verapamil (Calan, Verelan, Isoptin), and quinidine (Cardioquin, Quinidex, Quinora, Quinaglute). Reduced effectiveness could lead to poor control of blood pressure, irregular heartbeats, or other heart conditions.

  • fenoprofen (Nalfon). Reduced effectiveness could lead to a loss of inflammation or pain control.

  • griseofulvin (Grisactin, Fulvicin PG, Grifulvin V), and metronidazole (Flagyl, Metryl, Metizol). Reduced effectiveness could lead to recurrence or worsening of an infection.

  • theophylline (Theo-Dur, Theochron, Theolair, Slo-Bid, others). Asthma, COPD, or other respiratory conditions could grow worse.

Other drugs may also influence the activity of mephobarbital:

  • Alcohol, sleep aids, antihistamines, antidepressants, and other drugs that cause tiredness or sedation may increase the drowsiness caused by mephobarbital.

  • Rifampin (Rifadin, Rimactine) may decrease the effects of mephobarbital.

Drugs other than those listed here may also interact with mephobarbital. Talk to your doctor and pharmacist before taking any prescription or over-the-counter medicines.

What happens if I have an overdose of mephobarbital?

Seek emergency medical attention.

Symptoms of a mephobarbital overdose include difficulty breathing, back-and-forth movements of the eyes, appearance of being drunk, fast heartbeat, low body temperature, heavy sedation, coma, and death.

Remember, keep this and all other medicines out of the reach of children, never share your medicines with others, and use this medication only for the indication prescribed. Every effort has been made to ensure that the information provided by Cerner Multum, Inc. ('Multum') is accurate, up-to-date, and complete, but no guarantee is made to that effect. Drug information contained herein may be time sensitive. Multum information has been compiled for use by healthcare practitioners and consumers in the United States and therefore Multum does not warrant that uses outside of the United States are appropriate, unless specifically indicated otherwise. Multum's drug information does not endorse drugs, diagnose patients or recommend therapy. Multum's drug information is an informational resource designed to assist licensed healthcare practitioners in caring for their patients and/or to serve consumers viewing this service as a supplement to, and not a substitute for, the expertise, skill, knowledge and judgment of healthcare practitioners. The absence of a warning for a given drug or drug combination in no way should be construed to indicate that the drug or drug combination is safe, effective or appropriate for any given patient. Multum does not assume any responsibility for any aspect of healthcare administered with the aid of information Multum provides. The information contained herein is not intended to cover all possible uses, directions, precautions, warnings, drug interactions, allergic reactions, or adverse effects. If you have questions about the drugs you are taking, check with your doctor, nurse or pharmacist.
Content provided by Multum - Last Updated 2/11/2008