Before Using

Drug information provided by: Merative, Micromedex®

Allergies

Tell your doctor if you have ever had any unusual or allergic reaction to medicines in this group or any other medicines. Also tell your health care professional if you have any other types of allergies, such as to foods dyes, preservatives, or animals. For non-prescription products, read the label or package ingredients carefully.

Pediatric

Unusual excitement may be more likely to occur in children, who are usually more sensitive than adults to the effects of barbiturates.

Geriatric

Confusion, mental depression, and unusual excitement may be more likely to occur in the elderly, who are usually more sensitive than younger adults to the effects of barbiturates.

Pregnancy

Barbiturates have been shown to increase the chance of birth defects in humans. However, this medicine may be needed in serious diseases or other situations that threaten the mother's life. Be sure you have discussed this and the following information with your doctor:

  • Taking barbiturates regularly during pregnancy may cause bleeding problems in the newborn infant. In addition, taking barbiturates regularly during the last 3 months of pregnancy may cause the baby to become dependent on the medicine. This may lead to withdrawal side effects in the baby after birth.
  • One study in humans has suggested that barbiturates taken during pregnancy may increase the chance of brain tumors in the baby.
  • Barbiturates taken for anesthesia during labor and delivery may reduce the force and frequency of contractions of the uterus; this may prolong labor and delay delivery.
  • Use of barbiturates during labor may cause breathing problems in the newborn infant.

Breastfeeding

Barbiturates pass into the breast milk and may cause drowsiness, slow heartbeat, shortness of breath, or troubled breathing in babies of nursing mothers taking this medicine.

Drug Interactions

Although certain medicines should not be used together at all, in other cases two different medicines may be used together even if an interaction might occur. In these cases, your doctor may want to change the dose, or other precautions may be necessary. When you are taking any of these medicines, it is especially important that your healthcare professional know if you are taking any of the medicines listed below. The following interactions have been selected on the basis of their potential significance and are not necessarily all-inclusive.

Using medicines in this class with any of the following medicines is not recommended. Your doctor may decide not to treat you with a medication in this class or change some of the other medicines you take.

  • Atazanavir
  • Boceprevir
  • Cabotegravir
  • Cobicistat
  • Darunavir
  • Dasabuvir
  • Delamanid
  • Doravirine
  • Elvitegravir
  • Isavuconazonium Sulfate
  • Maraviroc
  • Mavacamten
  • Nirmatrelvir
  • Ombitasvir
  • Paritaprevir
  • Ranolazine
  • Rilpivirine
  • Ritonavir
  • Rivaroxaban
  • Telaprevir
  • Tenofovir Alafenamide
  • Voriconazole

Using medicines in this class with any of the following medicines is usually not recommended, but may be required in some cases. If both medicines are prescribed together, your doctor may change the dose or how often you use one or both of the medicines.

  • Abemaciclib
  • Abiraterone Acetate
  • Abrocitinib
  • Acalabrutinib
  • Acenocoumarol
  • Acepromazine
  • Acetazolamide
  • Alfentanil
  • Alfuzosin
  • Alprazolam
  • Amiodarone
  • Amisulpride
  • Amlodipine
  • Amobarbital
  • Amprenavir
  • Anagrelide
  • Anileridine
  • Anisindione
  • Apalutamide
  • Apixaban
  • Apomorphine
  • Apremilast
  • Aprepitant
  • Aprobarbital
  • Aripiprazole
  • Aripiprazole Lauroxil
  • Armodafinil
  • Arsenic Trioxide
  • Asenapine
  • Astemizole
  • Atogepant
  • Atorvastatin
  • Avacopan
  • Avanafil
  • Avapritinib
  • Avatrombopag
  • Axitinib
  • Azithromycin
  • Baclofen
  • Barbital
  • Bedaquiline
  • Belumosudil
  • Benperidol
  • Benzhydrocodone
  • Bepridil
  • Bictegravir
  • Bosutinib
  • Brigatinib
  • Bromazepam
  • Bromocriptine
  • Bromopride
  • Budesonide
  • Buprenorphine
  • Bupropion
  • Buserelin
  • Buspirone
  • Butabarbital
  • Butalbital
  • Butorphanol
  • Cabozantinib
  • Calcifediol
  • Calcium Oxybate
  • Cannabidiol
  • Cannabis
  • Capivasertib
  • Capmatinib
  • Carbamazepine
  • Carbinoxamine
  • Carisoprodol
  • Carmustine
  • Carphenazine
  • Carvedilol
  • Celecoxib
  • Cenobamate
  • Ceritinib
  • Cetirizine
  • Chloral Hydrate
  • Chlordiazepoxide
  • Chloroquine
  • Chlorpromazine
  • Chlorzoxazone
  • Cilostazol
  • Ciprofloxacin
  • Cisapride
  • Citalopram
  • Clarithromycin
  • Clindamycin
  • Clobazam
  • Clofazimine
  • Clonazepam
  • Clopidogrel
  • Clorazepate
  • Clozapine
  • Cobimetinib
  • Codeine
  • Colchicine
  • Conivaptan
  • Copanlisib
  • Crizotinib
  • Cyclobenzaprine
  • Cyclophosphamide
  • Cyclosporine
  • Dabigatran Etexilate
  • Dabrafenib
  • Daclatasvir
  • Dantrolene
  • Daridorexant
  • Darifenacin
  • Darolutamide
  • Darunavir
  • Dasatinib
  • Deferasirox
  • Deflazacort
  • Degarelix
  • Delavirdine
  • Deslorelin
  • Desogestrel
  • Deutetrabenazine
  • Dexamethasone
  • Dexmedetomidine
  • Diacetylmorphine
  • Diazepam
  • Dichloralphenazone
  • Dicumarol
  • Dienogest
  • Difenoxin
  • Dihydrocodeine
  • Dihydroergotamine
  • Diltiazem
  • Diphenhydramine
  • Diphenoxylate
  • Disopyramide
  • Disulfiram
  • Ditiocarb Sodium
  • Docetaxel
  • Dofetilide
  • Dolasetron
  • Dolutegravir
  • Domperidone
  • Donepezil
  • Doxorubicin
  • Doxorubicin Hydrochloride Liposome
  • Doxylamine
  • Dronedarone
  • Droperidol
  • Drospirenone
  • Duvelisib
  • Ebastine
  • Edoxaban
  • Efavirenz
  • Elacestrant
  • Elagolix
  • Elbasvir
  • Eletriptan
  • Elexacaftor
  • Encorafenib
  • Enflurane
  • Entrectinib
  • Enzalutamide
  • Eplerenone
  • Eravacycline
  • Erdafitinib
  • Ergotamine
  • Eribulin
  • Erlotinib
  • Escitalopram
  • Esketamine
  • Eslicarbazepine Acetate
  • Esomeprazole
  • Estazolam
  • Estetrol
  • Estradiol
  • Eszopiclone
  • Eterobarb
  • Ethchlorvynol
  • Ethinyl Estradiol
  • Ethopropazine
  • Ethylmorphine
  • Ethynodiol
  • Etonogestrel
  • Etravirine
  • Everolimus
  • Exemestane
  • Famotidine
  • Fedratinib
  • Felbamate
  • Felodipine
  • Fentanyl
  • Fexinidazole
  • Finerenone
  • Fingolimod
  • Flecainide
  • Flibanserin
  • Fluconazole
  • Flunitrazepam
  • Fluoxetine
  • Fluphenazine
  • Flurazepam
  • Fluspirilene
  • Fluticasone
  • Fluvastatin
  • Fluvoxamine
  • Formoterol
  • Fosamprenavir
  • Fosaprepitant
  • Foscarnet
  • Fosnetupitant
  • Fosphenytoin
  • Fospropofol
  • Fostamatinib
  • Fostemsavir
  • Fruquintinib
  • Gabapentin
  • Gabapentin Enacarbil
  • Galantamine
  • Gatifloxacin
  • Gemifloxacin
  • Gestodene
  • Gilteritinib
  • Glasdegib
  • Glimepiride
  • Glyburide
  • Gonadorelin
  • Goserelin
  • Granisetron
  • Grazoprevir
  • Halazepam
  • Halofantrine
  • Haloperidol
  • Halothane
  • Hemin
  • Heptabarbital
  • Hexobarbital
  • Histrelin
  • Hydrocodone
  • Hydrocortisone
  • Hydromorphone
  • Hydroquinidine
  • Hydroxychloroquine
  • Hydroxyzine
  • Ibrexafungerp
  • Ibrutinib
  • Ibutilide
  • Idelalisib
  • Ifosfamide
  • Iloperidone
  • Imatinib
  • Indinavir
  • Infigratinib
  • Inotuzumab Ozogamicin
  • Irbesartan
  • Irinotecan
  • Irinotecan Liposome
  • Isocarboxazid
  • Isoflurane
  • Istradefylline
  • Itraconazole
  • Ivabradine
  • Ivacaftor
  • Ivosidenib
  • Ixazomib
  • Ketamine
  • Ketazolam
  • Ketobemidone
  • Ketoconazole
  • Lacosamide
  • Lamotrigine
  • Lansoprazole
  • Lapatinib
  • Larotrectinib
  • Ledipasvir
  • Lefamulin
  • Lemborexant
  • Lenacapavir
  • Leniolisib
  • Lenvatinib
  • Lercanidipine
  • Leuprolide
  • Levamlodipine
  • Levocetirizine
  • Levofloxacin
  • Levoleucovorin
  • Levonorgestrel
  • Levorphanol
  • Linagliptin
  • Linezolid
  • Lofexidine
  • Lomitapide
  • Lopinavir
  • Lorazepam
  • Lorlatinib
  • Lormetazepam
  • Losartan
  • Lovastatin
  • Loxapine
  • Lumateperone
  • Lumefantrine
  • Lurasidone
  • Macimorelin
  • Magnesium Oxybate
  • Maribavir
  • Mavacamten
  • Meclizine
  • Medazepam
  • Medroxyprogesterone
  • Mefloquine
  • Melperone
  • Meperidine
  • Mephenesin
  • Mephobarbital
  • Meprobamate
  • Meptazinol
  • Mesoridazine
  • Mestranol
  • Metaxalone
  • Methadone
  • Methdilazine
  • Methocarbamol
  • Methohexital
  • Methotrimeprazine
  • Methoxyflurane
  • Methylene Blue
  • Methylphenidate
  • Metoclopramide
  • Metronidazole
  • Miconazole
  • Midazolam
  • Mifepristone
  • Mitapivat
  • Mizolastine
  • Mobocertinib
  • Moclobemide
  • Molindone
  • Montelukast
  • Moricizine
  • Morphine
  • Morphine Sulfate Liposome
  • Moxifloxacin
  • Nafarelin
  • Nalbuphine
  • Naldemedine
  • Naloxegol
  • Nateglinide
  • Nelfinavir
  • Neratinib
  • Netupitant
  • Nicomorphine
  • Nifedipine
  • Nilotinib
  • Nimodipine
  • Nintedanib
  • Nirogacestat
  • Nisoldipine
  • Nitisinone
  • Nitrazepam
  • Nitrous Oxide
  • Nomegestrol
  • Norelgestromin
  • Norethindrone
  • Norfloxacin
  • Norgestimate
  • Norgestrel
  • Octreotide
  • Ofloxacin
  • Olanzapine
  • Olaparib
  • Oliceridine
  • Olutasidenib
  • Omaveloxolone
  • Omeprazole
  • Ondansetron
  • Opium
  • Opium Alkaloids
  • Orlistat
  • Orphenadrine
  • Osilodrostat
  • Osimertinib
  • Oxaliplatin
  • Oxazepam
  • Oxcarbazepine
  • Oxycodone
  • Oxymorphone
  • Ozanimod
  • Paclitaxel
  • Pacritinib
  • Palbociclib
  • Paliperidone
  • Palovarotene
  • Panobinostat
  • Pantoprazole
  • Papaveretum
  • Papaverine
  • Paregoric
  • Paroxetine
  • Pasireotide
  • Pazopanib
  • Pemigatinib
  • Pentamidine
  • Pentazocine
  • Pentobarbital
  • Perampanel
  • Perazine
  • Periciazine
  • Perphenazine
  • Phenelzine
  • Phenindione
  • Phenobarbital
  • Phenprocoumon
  • Phenytoin
  • Pimavanserin
  • Pimozide
  • Pioglitazone
  • Pipamperone
  • Piperacetazine
  • Piperaquine
  • Pipotiazine
  • Piritramide
  • Pirtobrutinib
  • Pitolisant
  • Ponesimod
  • Posaconazole
  • Potassium Oxybate
  • Pralsetinib
  • Prazepam
  • Praziquantel
  • Pregabalin
  • Pretomanid
  • Primidone
  • Probenecid
  • Probucol
  • Procainamide
  • Procarbazine
  • Prochlorperazine
  • Progesterone
  • Promazine
  • Promethazine
  • Propafenone
  • Propofol
  • Quazepam
  • Quercetin
  • Quetiapine
  • Quinidine
  • Quinine
  • Quizartinib
  • Ramelteon
  • Rasagiline
  • Reboxetine
  • Remifentanil
  • Remimazolam
  • Remoxipride
  • Repaglinide
  • Repotrectinib
  • Ribociclib
  • Rifabutin
  • Rifampin
  • Rimegepant
  • Ripretinib
  • Risperidone
  • Roflumilast
  • Rolapitant
  • Ropeginterferon Alfa-2b-njft
  • Rosiglitazone
  • Safinamide
  • Salmeterol
  • Samidorphan
  • Saquinavir
  • Saxagliptin
  • Scopolamine
  • Secobarbital
  • Segesterone
  • Selegiline
  • Selexipag
  • Selpercatinib
  • Selumetinib
  • Sertindole
  • Sertraline
  • Sevoflurane
  • Sildenafil
  • Simeprevir
  • Simvastatin
  • Siponimod
  • Sirolimus
  • Sodium Oxybate
  • Sodium Phosphate
  • Sodium Phosphate, Dibasic
  • Sodium Phosphate, Monobasic
  • Solifenacin
  • Sonidegib
  • Sorafenib
  • Sotalol
  • Sparfloxacin
  • St John's Wort
  • Succinylcholine
  • Sufentanil
  • Sulfaphenazole
  • Sulpiride
  • Sultopride
  • Sunitinib
  • Suvorexant
  • Tacrolimus
  • Tamoxifen
  • Tamsulosin
  • Tapentadol
  • Tazemetostat
  • Telavancin
  • Telithromycin
  • Temazepam
  • Temsirolimus
  • Teniposide
  • Tepotinib
  • Terfenadine
  • Tetrabenazine
  • Tezacaftor
  • Thiethylperazine
  • Thiopental
  • Thiopropazate
  • Thioridazine
  • Thiotepa
  • Ticagrelor
  • Ticlopidine
  • Tilidine
  • Tipranavir
  • Tivozanib
  • Tizanidine
  • Tolbutamide
  • Tolonium Chloride
  • Tolterodine
  • Tolvaptan
  • Topiramate
  • Toremifene
  • Torsemide
  • Trabectedin
  • Tramadol
  • Tranylcypromine
  • Trazodone
  • Triazolam
  • Triclabendazole
  • Trifluoperazine
  • Trifluperidol
  • Triflupromazine
  • Trimeprazine
  • Triptorelin
  • Tucatinib
  • Ubrogepant
  • Ulipristal
  • Upadacitinib
  • Valproic Acid
  • Vandetanib
  • Vardenafil
  • Velpatasvir
  • Vemurafenib
  • Venetoclax
  • Venlafaxine
  • Verapamil
  • Vilanterol
  • Vinblastine
  • Vincristine
  • Vincristine Sulfate Liposome
  • Vinflunine
  • Vinorelbine
  • Voclosporin
  • Vonoprazan
  • Vorapaxar
  • Vorinostat
  • Voxelotor
  • Voxilaprevir
  • Warfarin
  • Zaleplon
  • Zanubrutinib
  • Ziprasidone
  • Zolpidem
  • Zopiclone
  • Zotepine
  • Zuclopenthixol
  • Zuranolone

Other Interactions

Certain medicines should not be used at or around the time of eating food or eating certain types of food since interactions may occur. Using alcohol or tobacco with certain medicines may also cause interactions to occur. Discuss with your healthcare professional the use of your medicine with food, alcohol, or tobacco.

Using medicines in this class with any of the following is usually not recommended, but may be unavoidable in some cases. If used together, your doctor may change the dose or how often you use your medicine, or give you special instructions about the use of food, alcohol, or tobacco.

  • Ethanol

Other Medical Problems

The presence of other medical problems may affect the use of medicines in this class. Make sure you tell your doctor if you have any other medical problems, especially:

  • Alcohol abuse (or history of) or
  • Drug abuse or dependence (or history of)—Dependence on barbiturates may develop.
  • Anemia (severe) or
  • Asthma (history of), emphysema, or other chronic lung disease or
  • Type 2 diabetes mellitus or
  • Hyperactivity (in children) or
  • Mental depression or
  • Overactive thyroid or
  • Porphyria (or history of)—Barbiturates may make the condition worse.
  • Kidney disease or
  • Liver disease—Higher blood levels of barbiturates may result, increasing the chance of side effects.
  • Pain—Barbiturates may cause unexpected excitement or mask important symptoms of more serious problems.
  • Underactive adrenal gland—Barbiturates may interfere with the effects of other medicines needed for this condition.

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Portions of this document last updated: April 01, 2024

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