Butabarbital

What is Butabarbital?

This medication is sometimes prescribed for other uses; ask your doctor or pharmacist for more information.

Brand Name

Butisol Sodiu

How

If your sleep problems continue, talk to your doctor, who will determine whether this drug is right for you.

Side Effects

drowsiness

headache

dizziness

depression

excitement (especially in children)

upset stomach

nightmares

increased dreaming

vomiting

constipation

joint or muscle pain

mouth sores

sore throat

easy bruising

bloody nose

unusual bleeding

fever

difficulty breathing or swallowing

severe skin rash

http://www.fda.gov/MedWatch/index.html

Precautions

Before taking butabarbital,

tell your doctor and pharmacist if you are allergic to butabarbital, tartrazine (a yellow dye in some butabarbital tablets), aspirin, or any other drugs.

tell your doctor and pharmacist what prescription and nonprescription medications you are taking, especially acetaminophen (Tylenol); anticoagulants ('blood thinners') such as warfarin (Coumadin); antihistamines; carbamazepine (Tegretol); clonazepam (Klonopin); disulfiram (Antabuse); felodipine (Plendil); fenoprofen (Nalfon); MAO inhibitors [phenelzine (Nardil) or tranylcypromine (Parnate)]; medications for depression, seizures, pain, Parkinson's disease, asthma, colds, or allergies; metoprolol (Lopressor, Toprol XL); metronidazole (Flagyl); muscle relaxants; phenylbutazone (Azolid, Butazolidin); propranolol (Inderal); rifampin (Rifadin); sedatives; sleeping pills; steroids; theophylline (Theo-Dur); tranquilizers; valproic acid (Depakene); verapamil (Calan); and vitamins. These medications may add to the drowsiness caused by butabarbital.

tell your doctor if you have or have ever had anemia; asthma; seizures; or lung, heart, or liver disease.

you should know that butabarbital can decrease the effectiveness of oral contraceptives. Use a different method of birth control while taking this medication.

tell your doctor if you are pregnant, plan to become pregnant, or are breast-feeding. If you become pregnant while taking butabarbital, call your doctor immediately.

if you are having surgery, including dental surgery, tell the doctor or dentist that you are taking butabarbital.

you should know that this drug may make you drowsy. Do not drive a car or operate machinery until you know how this drug affects you.

remember that alcohol can add to the drowsiness caused by this drug.

Overdose

In case of overdose, call your local poison control center at 1-800-222-1222. If the victim has collapsed or is not breathing, call local emergency services at 911.

What If I Forget

Do not take the missed dose when you remember it. Skip it completely; then take the next dose at the regularly scheduled time. Do not take a double dose to make up for a missed one.

Storage

Keep this medication in the container it came in, tightly closed, and out of reach of children. Store it at room temperature and away from excess heat and moisture (not in the bathroom). Throw away any medication that is outdated or no longer needed. Talk to your pharmacist about the proper disposal of your medication.

Miscellaneous

It is important for you to keep a written list of all of the prescription and nonprescription (over-the-counter) medicines you are taking, as well as any products such as vitamins, minerals, or other dietary supplements. You should bring this list with you each time you visit a doctor or if you are admitted to a hospital. It is also important information to carry with you in case of emergencies.

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The AHFS MedMaster Consumer Medication Information CMI® database is copyrighted by the American Society of Health-System Pharmacists, Inc. © 2008, ASHP, Bethesda, Maryland 20814. All Rights Reserved. Duplication must be expressly authorized by ASHP, unless such duplication consists of printing or downloading portions of the data inherent in the program for non-commercial use. The American Society of Health-System Pharmacists, Inc. represents that the database provided hereunder was formulated with a reasonable standard of care, and in conformity with professional standards in the field. The American Society of Health-System Pharmacists, Inc. makes no representations or warranties, express or implied, including, but not limited to, any implied warranty of merchantability and/or fitness for a particular purpose, with respect to such database and specifically disclaims all such warranties and representations. Users are advised that decisions regarding drug therapy are complex medical decisions requiring the independent, informed decision of an appropriate health care professional, and the database is provided for informational purposes only. The entire monograph for a drug should be reviewed for a thorough understanding of the drug's actions, uses and side effects. The American Society of Health-System Pharmacists, Inc. does not endorse or recommend the use of any drug in the database. The information contained in the database is not a substitute for medical care.