Phenobarbital

NERVOUS SYSTEM

Key facts

Phenobarbital is an ofp drug catalogued in DrugCentral. It was first approved by the YEAR INTRODUCED in 1912. DrugCentral lists 4 molecular targets, including Scn1a|Scn2a|Scn3a, NR1I3 and NR1I2. Recorded indications include Bipolar disorder in remission, Cluster Headache Prevention, Cluster headache syndrome and Epilepsy.

• Approval status: ofp (first approved 1912 by the YEAR INTRODUCED).
• Molecular targets: Scn1a|Scn2a|Scn3a, NR1I3, NR1I2 and GABRA1|GABRG2|GABRB2 (4 listed in DrugCentral).
• Indications: Bipolar disorder in remission, Cluster Headache Prevention, Cluster headache syndrome, Epilepsy and Epilepsy characterized by intractable complex partial seizures and others.
• ATC code: N03AA02 (Barbiturates and derivatives).
• Molecular formula: C12H12N2O3; molecular weight 232.24 g/mol.

Indications & contraindications

Drug–disease relationships curated by DrugCentral (OMOP / SNOMED concepts).

Indications (11)

• Bipolar disorder in remission
• Cluster Headache Prevention
• Cluster headache syndrome
• Epilepsy
• Epilepsy characterized by intractable complex partial seizures
• Lennox-Gastaut syndrome
• Migraine
• Simple partial seizure
• Tonic-clonic epilepsy
• Tonic-clonic seizure
• Vascular headache

Off-label uses (3)

• Alcohol withdrawal syndrome
• Bipolar affective disorder, current episode depression
• Hyperbilirubinemia

Contraindications (86)

• Achalasia of esophagus
• Acute erosive gastritis
• Acute exacerbation of asthma
• Acute hepatitis
• Acute nephropathy
• Acute tuberculosis
• Agoraphobia
• Agranulocytosis
• Alcohol intoxication
• Alcoholism
• Anemia
• Anemia due to enzyme deficiency
• Angina pectoris
• Angle-closure glaucoma
• Aplastic anemia
• Appendicitis
• Atony of colon
• Autonomic dysreflexia
• Benign prostatic hyperplasia
• Bladder outflow obstruction
• Bleeding
• Brain damage
• Breastfeeding (mother)
• Bronchitis
• Cerebral ischemia
• Chronic heart failure
• Chronic lung disease
• Chronic myocardial ischemia
• Chronic obstructive lung disease
• Complete trisomy 21 syndrome
• + 56 more

Mechanism & targets

Molecular targets (4)

Target	Gene	Action	Activity
Sodium channel alpha subunits; brain (Types I, II, III)	Scn1a|Scn2a|Scn3a	unknown	IC50 5.60
Nuclear receptor subfamily 1 group I member 3	NR1I3	unknown	—
Nuclear receptor subfamily 1 group I member 2	NR1I2	unknown	—
GABA-A receptor alpha-1/beta-2/gamma-2	GABRA1|GABRG2|GABRB2	unknown	—

Regulatory approvals (1)

Date	Agency	Marketed as	Applicant	Orphan
1912-01-01	YEAR INTRODUCED	—	—

ATC classification

ATC code	Therapeutic hierarchy
N03AA02	NERVOUS SYSTEM › ANTIEPILEPTICS › ANTIEPILEPTICS › Barbiturates and derivatives

Reported adverse-event signals

Strongest FDA FAERS disproportionality signals (log-likelihood ratio). A signal is a statistical association in spontaneous reports, not proof that the drug causes the event.

MedDRA term	LLR
Multiple-drug resistance	1660.8
Seizure	1568.7
Status epilepticus	1183.8
Drug ineffective	1069.2
Drug reaction with eosinophilia and systemic symptoms	612.4
Epilepsy	419.5
Toxicity to various agents	385.5
Drug resistance	379.0
Drug interaction	349.4
Drug ineffective for unapproved indication	316.5
Off label use	292.1
Hyperammonaemia	282.9

Chemical structure

Full physicochemical, ADMET and 3D-structure analysis of Phenobarbital is on its molecule page.

• Molecular formula: C₁₂H₁₂N₂O₃
• Molecular weight: 232.24 g/mol
• CAS number: 50-06-6
• InChIKey: DDBREPKUVSBGFI-UHFFFAOYSA-N
• PubChem CID: 4763

CCC1(C(=O)NC(=O)NC1=O)C1=CC=CC=C1

Frequently asked questions

Answers are generated from the structured data on this page, not written by hand.

What is Phenobarbital used for?

DrugCentral lists the following indications for Phenobarbital: Bipolar disorder in remission, Cluster Headache Prevention, Cluster headache syndrome, Epilepsy, Epilepsy characterized by intractable complex partial seizures, Lennox-Gastaut syndrome, Migraine and Simple partial seizure and others.

How does Phenobarbital work?

Its molecular targets in DrugCentral include Scn1a|Scn2a|Scn3a, NR1I3, NR1I2 and GABRA1|GABRG2|GABRB2.

When was Phenobarbital first approved?

Phenobarbital was first approved by the YEAR INTRODUCED in 1912.

What is the chemical formula of Phenobarbital?

Phenobarbital has the molecular formula C12H12N2O3 and a molecular weight of 232.24 g/mol.

Sources

• DrugCentral drug card 2134 — structure, indications, targets, approvals, pharmacologic classes (CC BY-SA 4.0)
• ChEMBL CHEMBL149972 — compound record and bioactivity
• PubChem CID 4763 — chemical identifiers
• DrugBank DB01174 — drug record
• FDA UNII YQE403BP4D — substance identity
• UniProt Q14994 (NR1I3) — target protein
• UniProt O75469 (NR1I2) — target protein
• FDA Adverse Event Reporting System (openFDA FAERS) — adverse-event signals, as aggregated by DrugCentral

How this page is built: methodology · editorial policy & corrections.