Phenobarbital drug interactions

CI2. Cucinell, S. A., Conney, A. H., Sansor, M., and Bums, J. J., Drug interactions in man lowering effect of phenobarbital on plasma levels of dicoumarol and diphenylhydantoin. Clin. Pharmacol. Thcr. 6, 420-429 (1965). 

Carbamazepine also can induce the enzymes that metabolize other anticonvulsant drugs, including phenytoin, primidone, phenobarbital, valproic acid, clonazepam, and ethosuximide, and metabolism of other drugs the patient may be taking. Similarly, other drugs may induce metabolism of carbamazepine the end result is the same as for autoinduction, and the dose of carbamazepine must be readjusted. A common drug-drug interaction is between carbamazepine and the macrolide antibiotics erythromycin and trolean-domycin. After a few days of antibiotic therapy, symptoms of carbamazepine toxicity develop this is readily reversible if either the antibiotic or carbamazepine is discontinued. 

For pharmacokinetics, drug interactions, and toxicity of phenobarbital, see Chapter 22. 

Drug Interactions Other antihypertensive agents Carbamazepine (vasodilators, ACE inhibitors, Rifampin diuretics, and beta-blockers) Phenobarbital Digoxin Cyclosporine Disopyramide Theophylline Flecainide Inhalation anesthetics Quinidine Neuromuscular blocking agents Cimetidine Lithium ... 

Phenobarbital is the oldest antiepileptic drug in common use and has a solid efficiency record for the control of seizure. However, due to some side effects (hypertension, depression, dizziness, rash, memory lapses) and drug interactions (primarily other anticonvulsants), phenobarbital is now generally used as a second-line treatment. 

Since indinavir is a substrate as well as an inhibitor of CYP3 A4, numerous and complex drug interactions can occur as described above. Indinavir levels decrease with concurrent use of rifabutin, fluconazole, St. John s wort, and rifampin. Caution is advised with other 3 A4 inducers also, including phenobarbital, phenytoin, carbamezepine, and dexamethasone. Dose reduction of indinavir should be considered if coadministered with delavirdine, ketoconazole, or itraconazole, while an increase in the dose of indinavir is indicated if the drug is coadministered with efavirenz or rifabutin. 

Multiple drug interactions have been discribed (decreased serum concentrations of phenobarbital, phenytoin, sulfinpyrazone and rifampin, increased serum concentrations of quinidine, carbamazepine, cyclosporin). Important in this setting is that a marked interaction exists between digoxin and verapamil, increasing the serum concentrations of the former due to decreased renal excretion,... 

Use of barbiturates combined with many other medications has been reported to alter the effects of barbiturates or the other drugs. Most of these drug interactions have been specifically reported with the barbiturate phenobarbital. There are... 

Drug interactions involving AEDs are shown in Table 52-5. Phenobarbital, phoiytom, primidone and carbamazepine are potent inducers of cytochrome P450 (CYP450), epoxide hydrolase, and uridine diphosphate gjucuronosyltransferase enzyme systems. Valproic acid inhibits many hepatic enzjrme systems and displaces some drugs from plasma albumin. Felbamate and topiramate can act as inducers with some isoforms and inhibitors with others. 

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