Tablets - 15 mg

Luminal contains as active substance phenobarbital, which is part of the group of barbiturates. It may affect the brain activity at different levels, from excitation to mild sedation to hypnosis and coma. High therapeutic doses of barbiturates may produce anesthesia. Overdoses may cause death. Phenobarbital depresses the sensory cortex, decreases motor activity, alters cerebellar function and causes drowsiness, sedation and hypnosis. Barbiturates have poor analgesic activity in subanesthetic doses and may increase the response to painful stimuli. All barbiturates exhibit anticonvulsant action at anesthetic doses. Barbiturates are respiratory depressants. The degree of respiratory depression is dependent upon the dose. Barbiturates are absorbed in varying degrees following oral or parenteral administration. The salts are absorbed faster than the acids. The rate of absorption is increased if sodium salts are given as a dilute solution or taken on an empty stomach. The onset of action ranges from 20 to 60 minutes after oral administration. After intramuscular injection, the onset of action is more rapid, while after intravenous administration the action may start after 5 minutes. Maximal depression of central nervous system may not occur until 15 minutes after intravenous injection.

Luminal is used:

• as long-term treatment of generalised tonic-clonic and focal-cortical seizures;
• as part of the emergency treatment of acute convulsions, including status epilepticus;
• as short-term treatment of insomnia;
• as preanesthetic sedation;
• in the treatment of febrile seizures in children.