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Secobarbital, a barbiturate, is used in the short-term treatment of insomnia to help you fall asleep and stay asleep through the night. It also is used as a sedative to relieve anxiety before surgery.
This medication is sometimes prescribed for other uses; ask your doctor or pharmacist for more information.
Secobarbital comes as a capsule to take by mouth. It usually is taken at bedtime as needed for sleep. Follow the directions on your prescription label carefully, and ask your doctor or pharmacist to explain any part you do not understand. Your prescription is not refillable. Take secobarbital exactly as directed.
Secobarbital can be habit-forming. Do not use secobarbital for more than 2 weeks. Do not take a larger dose, take it more often, or for a longer time than your doctor tells you to. Tolerance may develop with long-term or excessive use, making the drug less effective. If your sleep problems continue, talk to your doctor, who will determine whether this drug is right for you.
Before taking secobarbital,
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.
Side effects from secobarbital are common and include:
Tell your doctor if any of these symptoms are severe or do not go away:
If you experience any of the following symptoms, call your doctor immediately:
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 Throw away any medication that is outdated or no longer needed.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.
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.
Keep all appointments with your doctor and the laboratory. Your doctor will order certain lab tests to check your response to secobarbital.
Do not let anyone else take your medication.
Last Revised - 01/01/2003
The MedMaster Patient Drug Information database provides information copyrighted by the American Society of Health-System Pharmacists, Inc., Bethesda, Maryland Copyright© 2004. All Rights Reserved.
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Page last updated: 04 October 2004 |