Discontinuation of phenobarbital in children: effects on neurocognitive behavior

Pediatr Neurol. 1996 Jan;14(1):36-40. doi: 10.1016/0887-8994(95)00224-3.

Abstract

Neurocognitive performances were evaluated in 9 children with different types of epilepsy prior to and at least 6 months after discontinuation of phenobarbital. The patients treated with phenobarbital monotherapy were seizure free for at least 2 years, without electro-encephalographic anomalies for at least 1 year. Results indicated that phenobarbital at low therapeutic doses causes attentional and memory deficits, reversible after therapy discontinuation. Further research utilizing the same design is needed on larger samples in order to confirm our results.

MeSH terms

  • Adolescent
  • Anticonvulsants / administration & dosage
  • Anticonvulsants / adverse effects*
  • Attention / drug effects
  • Child
  • Cognition Disorders / chemically induced*
  • Cognition Disorders / diagnosis
  • Cognition Disorders / psychology
  • Dose-Response Relationship, Drug
  • Electroencephalography / drug effects
  • Epilepsy / drug therapy*
  • Epilepsy / psychology
  • Female
  • Follow-Up Studies
  • Humans
  • Male
  • Mental Recall / drug effects
  • Neuropsychological Tests*
  • Phenobarbital / administration & dosage
  • Phenobarbital / adverse effects*
  • Substance Withdrawal Syndrome / diagnosis*
  • Substance Withdrawal Syndrome / psychology

Substances

  • Anticonvulsants
  • Phenobarbital