Benzobarbital

Benzobarbital is an anticonvulsant that enhances the inhibitory GABAergic effects within the CNS.

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Indications Benzobarbital

Among the indications of the drug:

• epilepsy in convulsive forms, having various origins (especially if the focus of pathology is localized in the cerebral cortex);
• seizures of polymorphic or non-convulsive type (taken in combination with other antiepileptic drugs);
• functional forms of hyperbilirubinemia (including those developing after hepatitis);
• Gilbert's syndrome;
• chronic stage of hepatitis in cholestatic form;
• a benign form of recurrent cholestasis developing inside the liver;
• suprahepatic jaundice.

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Release form

It is produced in tablet form. The volume of tablets for adults is 0.1 g, and for children's tablets - 0.05 g. One blister contains 10 tablets, in a package - 5 blister plates.

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Pharmacodynamics

The drug helps reduce the frequency of epileptic seizures. In addition, it increases the activity of the microsomal system of liver enzymes and the processes of glucuronidation with acetylation. The drug also accelerates the process of biotransformation of external and internal compounds, including bilirubin.

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Pharmacokinetics

During the metabolism process, the substance phenobarbital is formed, which has antiepileptic properties. Synthesis with proteins inside the plasma is quite weak.

The drug is found in high concentrations in the kidneys with liver and brain. It passes through histohematic barriers and also penetrates into mother's milk. The half-life is 3-4 hours.

Excretion occurs through the kidneys, the substance is excreted unchanged, as well as in the form of decay products.

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Dosing and administration

The medicine should be taken orally after meals. Dosages are selected depending on the regularity and nature of the attacks, as well as the patient's age.

Adults - 0.1 g three times a day (the maximum daily dosage is 0.8 g), children (also three times a day): in the age category of 3-6 years - 0.025-0.05 g, in the period of 7-10 years - 0.05-0.1 g, at the age of 11-14 years - 0.1 g (no more than 0.45 g per day).

The treatment course begins with a single dose of a single dosage, and then, after 2-3 days, the daily dose is gradually increased to the optimal level. The duration of drug use in a maintenance dosage is individual and depends on the therapeutic effectiveness of the drug. It is recommended to take the tablets for at least 2 years (even if the attacks have already stopped).

To eliminate hyperbilirubinemia, you should take tablets for 2-3 weeks in the same dosages that are prescribed for the treatment of epilepsy.

Use Benzobarbital during pregnancy

The use of Benzobarbital is contraindicated during pregnancy.

Contraindications

Among the contraindications:

• severe liver or kidney dysfunction;
• 2-3 stage of chronic heart failure;
• the presence of bronchial asthma, anemia, diabetes mellitus, porphyria, and also adrenal or respiratory failure;
• development of depression (with suicide attempts), hyperkinesis;
• intolerance to the component benzobarbital.

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Side effects Benzobarbital

As a result of using the drug, the following side effects may develop: sleep disorders, a feeling of drowsiness or lethargy, speech problems, inhibition of mental reactions, loss of appetite, development of ataxia or nystagmus.

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Overdose

A sign of a drug overdose is an increase in its side effects.

To eliminate the disorders, it is necessary to perform gastric lavage, give the patient activated charcoal, and then carry out treatment aimed at getting rid of the symptoms.

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Interactions with other drugs

The drug increases the effect of antipsychotics, tricyclics, sleeping pills, narcotic analgesics, anesthetics, and also ethyl alcohol and tranquilizers.

As a result of combined use with Benzobarbital, the effectiveness of tetracycline drugs, paracetamol, GCS, xanthines, anticoagulants, mineralocorticosteroids, griseofulvin, quinidine, as well as cardiac glycosides and calciferol decreases.

Combined use with drugs that have myelosuppressive properties causes an increase in the hematotoxic effect.

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Storage conditions

The medicine must be kept in a place with standard conditions for medicines. Temperature – no more than 25°C.

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Shelf life

Benzobarbital is permitted to be used for 4 years from the date of release of the drug.

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