Alternatives to phenobarbital
FDA shortage status is active for phenobarbital; 1 same-class SPL records are listed below for registry comparison only.
Brand: Luminal
phenobarbital class peers while FDA lists an active shortage
phenobarbital (Luminal) is on an FDA shortage listing while 1 other Anticonvulsant (Barbiturate) SPL records remain in this registry peer set (class inventory 2). Labeled indication field for phenobarbital: This medicine is used to treat generalized and partial seizures.
Top FAERS reaction fields for phenobarbital total 5,745 reports across 10 reactions, set beside primidone. Counts are exposure-weighted submissions, not per-patient risk.
About phenobarbital
Phenobarbital is a medicine that can help control seizures and calm you down. It belongs to a class of drugs called barbiturates.
Used for: This medicine is used to treat generalized and partial seizures. Seizures are caused by unusual electrical activity in the brain. Phenobarbital helps to reduce this activity and prevent seizures.
1 Anticonvulsant (Barbiturate) peers (wide set)
phenobarbital vs primidone · FAERS reaction fields
FAERS top-reaction field "Seizure" shows the widest count spread between phenobarbital and primidone in this extract (1,269-report gap on that field). Counts are exposure-weighted submissions, not prevalence rates.
| Side Effect | phenobarbital | primidone |
|---|---|---|
| Seizure | 1,534 | 265 |
| Drug Interaction | 635 | 378 |
| Toxicity To Various Agents | 621 | - |
| Status Epilepticus | 482 | - |
| Multiple-Drug Resistance | 442 | - |
| Somnolence | 433 | 377 |
| Condition Aggravated | 413 | 261 |
| Epilepsy | 397 | - |
"-" means no reports for that reaction. Report counts reflect total FAERS submissions, not prevalence rates.
phenobarbital shortage vs Anticonvulsant (Barbiturate) peer index
Shortage status
FDA shortage listing is active for phenobarbital (status: To Be Discontinued). Peer rows remain a registry index, not a switch guide.
Frequently Asked Questions
Does FDA list a shortage for phenobarbital while peers remain indexed? ▼
Registry note: Shortage listings and peer indexes are for registry orientation only. This information is for educational purposes only and is not a substitute for professional medical advice. Do not stop or change your medication without talking to your doctor or pharmacist.
Field note for phenobarbital: see also the generic vs brand label guide when reading Luminal SPL strings.
Read our methodology - how this data is sourced, computed, and verified.