I missed my daughters phenobarb dose~! - Epilepsy Message Board

MadelynsMom · 04-15-2006, 03:24 PM

I missed my daughters phenobarb dose, its 5 now, and shes due another dose @ nine. Do you think she'll be ok? Anyone else on phenobarbotol?

neurowreck · 04-15-2006, 04:26 PM

Phenobarb has a very long half-life, so her overall levels shouldn't drop enough to cause any trouble- just give her next dose as scheduled.....if you think it's a possible problem, call the doc on call this weekend. But Phenobarb takes like 4-5 days to clear someone's system, so her other doses are still on board.

Travis from MN · 04-15-2006, 07:57 PM

Pheno is one you never want to administer the doses without the proper time seperation. If you noticed too late as was your situation, then don't worry. Just administer the next dose.

To give an example how long Pheno lasts in a persons system, the hospital administered me a massive 600mg by IV (I was on 15mg PM only) after a bad seizure at home when my folks brought me in afternoon/early evening to the ER. The effects of that large IV drip: I heard 2 of the 3 alarms go off when my finger moniter came off in the hospital. I don't remember even LEAVING the hospital that evening. I was told I walked into my room at home, unlaced my boots, and was OUT before my head hit the pillow on my bed (fully clothed) due to the effects of Pheno. They had to shake me to give me my PM meds; even AM meds the NeXT morning (and I went right back to sleep).

I woke up some time early afternoon still foggy trying to place how I got there. I had to ASK if I was carried or if I walked on my own power in to the house being I had no memory since being in the emergency room bed.

so Yes Pheno has a very long half-life! Thats why you don't want to double dose.

As a child I was on as high as 210; 240mgs I think (210 I can confirm; I know it was raised after that once). PM only in my case.

--Travis

neurowreck · 04-16-2006, 09:48 PM

The long half life is why a lot of older docs especially, still use it (besides, it works on a lot of people), because of compliance and remembering doses....it takes 96 hours to get to half of the level of it's highest peak , so one dose missed isn't a problem...

MadelynsMom · 04-17-2006, 01:18 AM

Thats good to know, I called the Dr. about it and the one on call said the same thing pretty much. I couldn't believe I forgot it, it was the first time since shes been on it. They are talking about weaning her off of it in a couple of months *yay*! They think she has benign familial convulsions, which subside fairly quickly. I hope that its not epilepsy. I know that there is a chance that she will develop epilepsy in the future, it happens sometimes with BFC. Well, thanks for your replys.