Pharmacologic Substance
phenobarbital Audio
phe·no·bar·bi·tal [ fee-noh-bahr-bi-tawl, -tal, -nuh- ]
Brand Names:
Donnatal; D-Tal; Nobatol; Phenohytro
Effect:
Electrical Activity Alteration
May Treat:
Epilepsies, Partial; Epilepsy, Benign Neonatal; Epilepsy, Tonic-Clonic; Hyperbilirubinemia; Seizures, Febrile
More Information:
ChemID; DrugBank; DailyMed; PDR
Definitions related to phenobarbital:
  • A barbituric acid derivative that acts as a nonselective central nervous system depressant. It potentiates GAMMA-AMINOBUTYRIC ACID action on GABA-A RECEPTORS, and modulates chloride currents through receptor channels. It also inhibits glutamate induced depolarizations.
    NLM Medical Subject Headings
    U.S. National Library of Medicine, 2025
  • A drug that is used to treat seizures and as a sedative. It is being studied in the treatment of diarrhea and for its ability to increase the antitumor effect of other therapies. It belongs to the family of drugs called barbiturates.
    NCI Dictionary of Cancer Terms
    U.S. National Cancer Institute, 2021
  • A long-acting barbituric acid derivative with antipsychotic property. Phenobarbital binds to and activates the gamma-aminobutyric acid (GABA)-A receptor, thereby mimicking the inhibitory actions of GABA in the brain. The activation effects of the phenobarbital-receptor-ionophore complex include increased frequency of chloride channel openings, membrane hyperpolarization and ultimately synaptic inhibition and decreased neuronal excitability. In addition, this agent inhibits glutamate induced depolarization.
    NCI
    U.S. National Cancer Institute, 2021
  • Barbituric acid derivative that acts as a nonselective central nervous system depressant.
    CRISP Thesaurus
    National Institutes of Health, 2006
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This content should not be used in place of medically-reviewed decision support reference material or professional medical advice. Some terms may have alternate or updated definitions not reflected in this set. The definitions on this page should not be considered complete or up to date.