If phenobarbital is your only option, go for it. There are worse things than taking it, e.g. your migraines.
It doesn't sound like you have started the phenobarbital yet. According to the U.S. National Institutes of Health, this med can be habit-forming and can have bad side effects. "If you take phenobarbital for a long time, it may not control your symptoms as well as it did at the beginning of your treatment."
Have you tried off-label Namenda at 25% of the dose given to the typical patients that it is meant for? That drug has significantly helped my migraines. And what about Botox injections? That does not interact with your body systemically. Those have helped me tremendously. If you haven't tried these, I would consider them before taking Phenobarbital, but it's up to your judgment of course.
Hi there,
Phenobarbital prevents excessive electrical activity in the brain. It is thought to achieve this by affecting certain neurotransmitters in the brain. Phenobarbital increases the activity of GABA and decreases the activity of glutamate in the brain. These actions help stabilize the electrical activity in the brain and keeps the nerve activity GABA in the brain in balance.Topiramate is very useful in migraine. If you are symptom free with it is best to continue it. It is suggested to consult your attending doctor before altering your drug schedule ort any change in dosage. I sincerely hope it helps.
Best luck and regards!