Butabarbital Side Effects

Medically reviewed by Drugs.com. Last updated on Nov 17, 2023.

Applies to butabarbital: oral tablet.

Serious side effects of Butabarbital

Along with its needed effects, butabarbital may cause some unwanted effects. Although not all of these side effects may occur, if they do occur they may need medical attention.

Check with your doctor immediately if any of the following side effects occur while taking butabarbital:

Rare

Agitation
bluish lips or skin
blurred vision
chest pain or discomfort
confusion
dark urine
discouragement
dizziness, faintness, or lightheadedness when getting up suddenly from a lying or sitting position
extremely shallow or slow breathing
false beliefs that cannot be changed by facts
fast heartbeat
feeling sad or empty
fever
hives, itching, skin rash
hoarseness
increase in body movements
irritability
joint pain, stiffness, or swelling
lack of appetite
large, hive-like swelling on face, eyelids, lips, tongue, throat, hands, legs, feet, or genitals
light-colored stools
lightheadedness, dizziness, or fainting
loss of interest or pleasure
mood or other mental changes
nausea
not breathing
poor insight and judgment
problems with memory or speech
redness of the skin
seeing, hearing, or feeling things that are not there
shakiness and unsteady walk
slow or irregular heartbeat
stomach pain or bloating
sweating
swelling of the eyelids, face, lips, hands, or feet
tightness in the chest
trouble concentrating
trouble recognizing objects
trouble sleeping
trouble thinking and planning
trouble walking
troubled breathing or swallowing
unsteadiness, trembling, or other problems with muscle control or coordination
unusual tiredness or weakness
vomiting
yellow eyes or skin

Get emergency help immediately if any of the following symptoms of overdose occur while taking butabarbital:

Symptoms of overdose

Blurred vision
chills
cold, clammy skin
confusion
cool hands and feet
decrease in the amount of urine
difficult or troubled breathing
dizziness, faintness, or lightheadedness when getting up suddenly from a lying or sitting position
fast, pounding, or irregular heartbeat or pulse
irregular, fast or slow, or shallow breathing
irritability
loss of consciousness
pale or blue lips, fingernails, or skin
poor judgment
shivering
slurred speech
sweating
trouble in walking
trouble sleeping
uncontrolled eye movements

Other side effects of Butabarbital

Some side effects of butabarbital may occur that usually do not need medical attention. These side effects may go away during treatment as your body adjusts to the medicine. Also, your health care professional may be able to tell you about ways to prevent or reduce some of these side effects.

Check with your health care professional if any of the following side effects continue or are bothersome or if you have any questions about them:

Less common

Sleepiness or unusual drowsiness

Rare

Constipation
headache
nervousness
nightmares

For Healthcare Professionals

Applies to butabarbital: oral elixir, oral tablet.

Nervous system

Common (1% to 10%): Somnolence

Frequency not reported: Ataxia, central nervous system (CNS) depression, dizziness, headache, hyperkinesia, syncope^[Ref]

Psychiatric

Frequency not reported: Abnormal thinking, agitation, anxiety, confusion, hallucinations, insomnia, nervousness, nightmares, psychiatric disturbance^[Ref]