Mephobarbital Dosage

Usual Adult Dose for Sedation

32 mg to 100 mg 3 to 4 times daily.
Optimum dose: 50 mg 3 to 4 times daily.

Usual Adult Dose for Epilepsy

For use in the treatment of grand mal and petit mal epilepsy:
Average dose: 400 to 600 mg daily.

It is preferable that the dose be taken at bedtime if seizures generally occur at night and during the day if attacks generally occur during the day.

Treatment should be started with a small dose. The dose may be gradually increased over 4 or 5 days until the optimum dosage is determined. If the patient has been taking another antiepileptic drug, it should be tapered off as the dose of mephobarbital is increased.

Similarly, when the dose is to be lowered to a maintenance level or is to be discontinued, the dose should be reduced gradually over 4 or 5 days.

Mephobarbital may be used in combination with phenobarbital, either as alternating courses or concurrently. When the two drugs are used at the same time, the dose should be about one-half the amount of each used alone.

Mephobarbital may also be used with phenytoin sodium. When these two drugs are used concurrently, a reduced dose of phenytoin sodium is advised, but the full dose of mephobarbital may be given.

Usual Pediatric Dose for Sedation

16 to 32 mg 3 to 4 times daily.

Usual Pediatric Dose for Epilepsy

<5 years: 16 mg to 32 mg 3 to 4 times daily.

>5 years: 32 to 64 mg 3 or 4 times daily.

It is preferable that the dose be taken at bedtime if seizures generally occur at night and during the day if attacks generally occur during the day.

Treatment should be started with a small dose. The dose may be gradually increased over 4 or 5 days until the optimum dosage is determined. If the patient has been taking another antiepileptic drug, it should be tapered off as the dose of mephobarbital is increased.

Similarly, when the dose is to be lowered to a maintenance level or is to be discontinued, the dose should be reduced gradually over 4 or 5 days.

Mephobarbital may be used in combination with phenobarbital, either as alternating courses or concurrently. When the two drugs are used at the same time, the dose should be about one-half the amount of each used alone.

Mephobarbital may also be used with phenytoin sodium. When these two drugs are used concurrently, a reduced dose of phenytoin sodium is advised, but the full dose of mephobarbital may be given.

Renal Dose Adjustments

The dosage should be reduced for patients with impaired renal function.

Liver Dose Adjustments

The dosage should be reduced for patients with hepatic disease.

Dose Adjustments

The dosage should be reduced in the elderly or debilitated because these patients may be more sensitive to barbiturates.

Further information

Always consult your healthcare provider to ensure the information displayed on this page applies to your personal circumstances.

Medical Disclaimer