Product Description

Methylphenobarbital is also marketed under the names - Mebaral, mephobarbital and Ovation.
It is used to relieve anxiety and tension as well as control seizures (tonic-clonic and absence types). Mephobarbital belongs to a class of drugs known as barbiturates. It works by restoring the balance of certain natural substances (neurotransmitters) in the brain to produce a calming effect.

Uses

This medication is used to relieve anxiety and tension.
Mephobarbital is also used to control seizures (tonic-clonic and absence types).
Controlling and reducing seizures lets you do more of your normal daily activities, reduces your risk of harm when you loose consciousness, and lessens your risk for a possibly life-threatening condition of frequent, repeated seizures.
How to take

This medication should be taken by mouth with or without food as directed by your doctor. Dosage is based on your medical condition, response to therapy, and use of other medications to treat seizures.
Take this medication regularly at evenly spaced intervals in order to get the most benefit from it. Remember to use it at the same time(s) each day to keep the amount of medicine in your body at a constant level.
This medication may cause withdrawal reactions, especially if it has been used regularly for a long time or in high doses.
In such cases, withdrawal symptoms may occur if you suddenly stop using this medication. To prevent withdrawal reactions speak with your doctor.

Side effects

Some side effects that might occur
Are : Drowsiness, dizziness, upset stomach, or headache may occur. If any of these effects persist or worsen, notify your doctor or pharmacist promptly.
Tell your doctor immediately if any of these unlikely but serious side effects occur: unusual tiredness, loss of coordination.
A small number of people who take anticonvulsants for any condition (such as seizure, bipolar disorder, pain) may experience depression, suicidal thoughts/attempts, or other mental/mood problems. Tell your doctor immediately if you or your family/caregiver notice any unusual/sudden changes in your mood, thoughts, or behavior including signs of depression, suicidal thoughts/attempts, thoughts about harming yourself.
Tell your doctor immediately if any of these rare but very serious side effects occur: increasing weakness, easy bruising/bleeding, signs of infection (e.g., fever, persistent sore throat, burning/painful/frequent urination), mouth sores, slowed breathing, slow/fast heartbeat, fainting, persistent nausea/vomiting, dark urine, stomach/abdominal pain, yellowing eyes/skin.

Long-term use of mephobarbital may rarely cause softening of the bones. Your doctor may recommend that you take vitamin D supplements to prevent this. Consult your doctor for details and immediately report any of the following side effects: back/hip/bone pain, bent/broken bones.
A very serious allergic reaction to this drug is unlikely, but seek immediate medical attention if it occurs. Symptoms of a serious allergic reaction may include: rash, itching/swelling (especially of the face/tongue/throat), severe dizziness, trouble breathing.
This is not a complete list of possible side effects. If you notice other effects not listed above, contact your doctor or pharmacist.

Precaution

Before taking mephobarbital, tell your doctor or pharmacist if you are allergic to it; or to other barbiturates (e.g., phenobarbital); or if you have any other allergies.
This medication should not be used if you have certain medical conditions. Before using this medicine, consult your doctor or pharmacist if you have: a certain blood disorder (porphyria), severe liver disease,
liver problems, severe breathing problems (e.g., respiratory depression), kidney problems, heart problems, myasthenia gravis, long-term severe underactive-thyroid disease (myxedema), uncontrolled pain, mental/mood problems (e.g., depression, suicidal thoughts/attempts), history of regular use/abuse of drugs/alcohol/other substances, other blood disorders (e.g., megaloblastic anemia).

This drug may make you dizzy or drowsy. Do not drive, use machinery, or do any activity that requires alertness until you are sure you can perform such activities safely. Avoid alcoholic beverages since they can increase drowsiness and increase your seizure risk.
The elderly may be more sensitive to the effects of this drug, especially unusual excitement, depression, and confusion.
This medication is not recommended for use during pregnancy. It may harm an unborn baby. However, it is important to control seizures during pregnancy. Discuss the risks and benefits with your doctor. If you plan to become pregnant, consult your doctor ahead of time. If you become pregnant while taking this drug, contact your doctor immediately. This medication may lower your folic acid levels, increasing the risk of spinal cord defects. Therefore, check with your doctor to make sure you are taking enough folic acid. Prenatal care should include tests for spinal cord defects. Infants born to mothers who have been using this medication during pregnancy may also have symptoms such as seizures, fussiness, trouble breathing, or bleeding. Tell the doctor immediately if you notice any of these symptoms in your newborn.

Drug interactions

This drug should not be used with the following medications because very serious interactions may occur: griseofulvin, sodium oxybate, voriconazole.
Before using this medication, tell your doctor or pharmacist of all prescription and nonprescription/herbal products you may use, especially of: disulfiram, MAO inhibitors (e.g., furazolidone, isocarboxazid, linezolid, moclobemide, phenelzine, procarbazine, rasagiline, selegiline, tranylcypromine), St John's wort, drugs removed from your body by certain liver enzymes (e.g., certain beta-blockers such as propranolol and metoprolol, corticosteroids such as prednisone, cyclosporine, doxycycline, estrogens, felodipine, metronidazole, progesterone, quinidine, sildenafil, simvastatin, theophylline, warfarin).
This medication may decrease the effectiveness of birth control pills. This can result in pregnancy. You may need to use an additional form of reliable birth control while using this medication. Consult your doctor or pharmacist for details.
Tell your doctor or pharmacist if you also take drugs that cause drowsiness such as: certain antihistamines (e.g., diphenhydramine), other anti-seizure drugs (e.g., carbamazepine), medicine for sleep or anxiety (e.g., alprazolam, diazepam, zolpidem), muscle relaxants, narcotic pain relievers (e.g., codeine), psychiatric medicines (e.g., chlorpromazine, risperidone, amitriptyline, trazodone).
Check the labels on all your medicines (e.g., cough-and-cold products) because they may contain drowsiness-causing ingredients.

Missed dose

If you miss a dose, take it as soon as you remember. If it is near the time of the next dose, skip the missed dose and resume your usual dosing schedule. Do not double the dose to catch up.

Storage

Store at room temperature up to 77 degrees F (25 degrees C) away from light and moisture. Do not store in the bathroom. Keep all medicines away from children and pets.
Do not flush medications down the toilet or pour them into a drain unless instructed to do so. Properly discard this product when it is expired or no longer needed. Consult your pharmacist or local waste disposal company for more details about how to safely discard your product.