Phenobarbital for Epilepsy User Reviews
Brand names: Sezaby
- Ano...
- Taken for 10 years or more
- September 16, 2025
"I had a seizure causing a car wreck in 1995. The US Navy diagnosed epilepsy and started me on Dilantin (no effect), then cycled through every drug available (either I was allergic to the drugs or they caused intolerable side effects). Luminal (Phenobarbital) was the last choice (1 1/2 gr. per day / 100 mg). It worked, so I was discharged to the VA's care. In the early 2000s, the prescription was upped another 1/2 gr. (34 mg) tablet due to breakthrough seizures. None since. Periodically, every few years, a new VA neurologist will come along with 'try this new drug instead because I'm uncomfortable with prescribing Luminal' because it's 'old' and triggers Dupuytren's contractures. The DC ship already sailed when I was forty-five (a VA nurse said she never saw the condition in someone so young). Other than the initial drowsiness adjusting to the medication, it hasn't been a problem to use (other than taking it across borders on trips). My driving privileges were restored when it took effect."
- And...
- July 30, 2024
"Taking it since 1981. Few other medicines for epilepsy are better than this. It may also be the oldest, so pharmacies don't like it since it costs nothing to produce."
Frequently asked questions
See also:
Learn more about Epilepsy
Care guides
Symptoms and treatments
More about phenobarbital
- Check interactions
- Compare alternatives
- Pricing & coupons
- Reviews (38)
- Drug images
- Side effects
- Dosage information
- During pregnancy
- Support group
- Drug class: barbiturate anticonvulsants
- Breastfeeding
- En español
Patient resources
Other brands
Professional resources
- PHENobarbital, PHENobarbital Sodium (Anticonvulsant) monograph
- PHENobarbital, PHENobarbital Sodium (Systemic) (Sedative) (AHFS Monograph)
- Phenobarbital (FDA)
- Phenobarbital Elixir (FDA)
- Phenobarbital Oral Solution (FDA)
"I'm 64. I have been taking 100mg of phenobarbital since I was 15. I started with 1, then 2, then 3 a day, so I have been on 300 mg a day. But what gets me is the pharmacist, along with doctors, keep wanting to give me lower doses of phenobarbital and try to get me off of it. As soon as I'm doing great, working, and having a good life, they end up changing things, and I end up having serious headaches along with seizures. I keep telling them, if it's not broke, don't fix it, but they don't want to listen at all."