Phenobarbital (also phenobarbitone) (Luminal®) is a weak acid with the chemical formula C₁₂H₁₂N₂O₃. It is a barbiturate used as a drug for its hypnotic, sedative, and anticonvulsant properties. It was widely prescribed in the 1930s and 1940s for a variety of ailments (such as epilepsy), but fell from favor after relatively more specialized hypnotics (mainly the benzodiazepines) began to appear in the 1960s. It is still routinely prescribed to dogs and cats with epilepsy.

Phenobarbitone (-ol) is now a class B controlled drug in the UK and a Schedule IV drug in the US.

References

Anticonvulsants | Barbiturates | Hypnotics | Criminology topics

Phenobarbital | Phénobarbital | Fenobarbital | フェノバルビタール | Fenobarbital | Fenobarbital | Fenobarbital | Фенобарбитал | Fenobarbital