Green Pages Where There Is No Doctor 2011 389
Phenobarbital (phenobarbitone, Luminal)
Name:_________________________________________
Often comes in:
tablets of 15 mg., 30 mg., 60 mg. and 100 mg.
Price:_________________ for_ ___________________
syrup of 15 mg. in 5 ml.
Price:_________________ for_ ___________________
Phenobarbital can be taken by mouth to help
prevent seizures (epilepsy). For epilepsy, it is often
necessary to continue the medicine for life. The
lowest dose that prevents seizures should be used.
WARNING: Too much phenobarbital can slow down
or stop breathing. Its action begins slowly and lasts
a long time (up to 24 hours, or longer if the person is
not urinating). Be careful not to give too much!
Dosage of Phenobarbital:
adults and children over 12 years:
1 to 3 mg./kg./day by mouth, divided
into 2 or 3 equal doses, or 50 to 100 mg.
2 or 3 times a day.
For children 12 years old or younger, give
1 dose by mouth at night, either all at once
or divided into 2 equal doses as follows:
children 5 to 12 years: 4 to 6 mg./kg./day
children 1 to 5 years: 6 to 8 mg./kg./day
children under 1 year: 5 to 8 mg./kg./day
We do not give the dosage for preparing
an injectable solution of phenobarbital here
because these injections are very dangerous.
They should only be given by a person who has
experience preparing the solution and giving
injections into a vein (see p. 178).
Phenytoin (diphenylhydantoin, Dilantin)
Name:_________________________________________
Often comes in:
capsules of 25 mg., 50 mg., and 100 mg.
Price:_________________ for_ ___________________
syrup with 250 mg. in 5 ml.
Price:_________________ for_ ___________________
This helps prevent the seizures of epilepsy. The
medicine must often be taken for life. The lowest
dosage that prevents seizures should be used.
Side effects: Swelling and abnormal growth
of the gums often occur with long-time use of
phenytoin. If this is severe, another medicine
should be used instead. Gum problems can be
partly prevented by keeping the mouth clean and
brushing or cleaning the teeth and gums well after
eating.
Dosage of phenytoin, by mouth;
Divide the daily dose into 2 or 3 equal parts.
For example, if a 4 year old child weighs 20 kg.,
give 150 mg. a day, divided into 2 doses of 75 mg.
each, or 3 doses of 50 mg. each.
adults and children older than 16 years:
4 to 6 mg./kg./day
children 10 to 16 years: 6 to 7 mg./kg./day
children 7 to 9 years: 7 to 8 mg./kg./day
children 4 to 6 years: 7.5 to 9 mg./kg./day
children 6 months to 4 years:
8 to 10 mg./kg./day
children less than 6 months old: 5 mg./kg./
day
If the dose does not completely prevent the
attacks, slowly increase the dose every 15 days up
to the maximum dosage per kg. of weight, divided
into 3 equal doses per day.
If this dosage does prevent attacks, reduce
the dosage little by little until you are giving the
smallest dose possible to prevent seizures.
We do not provide the dosage of phenytoin for
injection. These should only be given by a person
with experience giving injections into a vein (see
p. 178).
Diazepam (Valium)
Name:__________________ price:________ for_ ______
Often comes in:
injections of 5 mg. in 1 ml. of liquid
injections of 10 mg. in 2 ml. of liquid
tablets of 5 mg. and 10 mg.
We do not give the dosages for diazepam
injections. These should only be given by a person
with experience giving injections into a vein (see
p. 178).
To stop an epileptic seizure lasting more than
15 minutes, put the liquid solution for injection into a
syringe without a needle and put the liquid directly
up the anus, or grind up 1 tablet, mix the powder
with water, and put the mixture up the anus.
Dosage of diazepam solution, in the anus:
adults and children over 12 years:
5 to 10 mg.
children 7 to 12 years: 3 to 5 mg.
children under 7 years: 0.2 mg./kg.
for very old people: 0.25 mg./kg.
If the seizure is not controlled 15 minutes after
giving the medicine, repeat the dose. Do not
repeat more than once.