Correct dosage question.

[MaryK]

Hi: Does anyone still take phenobarbital? I have taken it for years with no problems except occasional fatigue and an occasional high blood level.

Today, I picked up my prescription and the pharmacist said there will be no more 30 mg phenobarbital but only 32.4 mg phenobarbital by any company, and to just take the same 4 tablets a day. Does anyone know anything about this.
How could 30 be the same as 32.4?

 

[Meetz1064]

It's been

years since I've taken pheno. I went toxic on the stuff, and had to be witdrawn cold turkey in the hospital.

Hmmmm. I'm trying to work out how this is gonna work. What I would ask is if there are any other smaller dosages that might be substituted, so that you can work it out so that the dose is not over the amount. And keep a closer eye on your blood work. I believe that there might be 15 mg tabs that you can use....
*scratching head*

Look on www.drugs.com and www.rxlist.com for some more info, they're usually pretty up-to-date. And have a heart-to-heart with your doc. They're usually BEHIND on this stuff, and need to know.

Good luck!

 

[MaryK]

Thank you.. I found out a bit more information that within the next two years all the phenobarbital and other drugs will reflect the "true" apothacary measuring in grains instead of mg, so all the strengths of phenobarbital will be different that what we are used to.
Thanks for your advice. Interesting, the prescribing info from the company my phenobarbital is from still states the dosing as 30 mg, 60 mg etc. Very confusing.
Thanks for answering.

 

[more_o_me]

Thank you.. I found out a bit more information that within the next two years all the phenobarbital and other drugs will reflect the "true" apothacary measuring in grains instead of mg, so all the strengths of phenobarbital will be different that what we are used to.
Thanks for your advice. Interesting, the prescribing info from the company my phenobarbital is from still states the dosing as 30 mg, 60 mg etc. Very confusing.
Thanks for answering.

Thanks so much for this info. :hugs:

I've been very confused about this myself. Did they say why the change? Even pharmacists, at least those I asked, don't seem aware of this.

Thanks,
~M~