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• Interactions

Many drugs can interact with secobarbital. Below is just a partial list. Tell your doctor if you are using:

• acetaminophen (Tylenol);

• a blood thinner such as warfarin (Coumadin);

• an antibiotic such as doxycycline (Adoxa, Doryx, Mondox, Oracea, Vibramycin, and others), griseofulvin (Grisactin, Fulvicin PG, Grifulvin V), or metronidazole (Flagyl);

• birth control pills or estrogen hormone replacement, including estrogen (Premarin), estradiol (Estrace, Femtrace, and others), progesterone (Progest, Prometrium), and others;

• theophylline (Theo-Dur, Theochron, Theolair, Slo-Bid, others);

• a heart rhythm medication such as quinidine (Cardioquin, Quinidex, Quinora, Quinaglute);

• seizure medications such as carbamazepine (Carbatrol, Tegretol), divalproex (Depakote), phenytoin (Dilantin), or valproic acid (Depakene);

• heart or blood pressure medication such as atenolol (Tenormin), metoprolol (Lopressor, Toprol), propranolol (Inderal, InnoPran), felodipine (Plendil) nifedipine (Procardia, Adalat), verapamil (Calan);

• an MAO inhibitor such as isocarboxazid (Marplan), phenelzine (Nardil), rasagiline (Azilect), selegiline (Eldepryl, Emsam), or tranylcypromine (Parnate); or

• steroids such as prednisone (Orasone, Deltasone), prednisolone (Prelone, Delta Cortef), methylprednisolone (Medrol), and others.

This list is not complete and there may be other drugs that can interact with secobarbital. Tell your doctor about all the prescription and over-the-counter medications you use. This includes vitamins, minerals, herbal products, and drugs prescribed by other doctors. Do not start using a new medication without telling your doctor.

Secobarbital may cause a severe allergic reaction. Stop taking secobarbital and get emergency medical help if you have any of these signs of an allergic reaction: hives; difficulty breathing; swelling of your face, lips, tongue, or throat.

Call your doctor at once if you have any of these serious side effects:

• restless muscle movements in your eyes, tongue, jaw, or neck;

• slow heartbeat, shallow breathing;

• feeling like you might pass out;

• a fever or a sore throat;

• sores in your mouth;

• easy bruising or bleeding; or

• ongoing nightmares or increased dreaming.

Less serious side effects may include:

• drowsiness or dizziness;

• problems with memory or concentration;

• excitement (especially in children or older adults);

• upset stomach, constipation;

• headache; or

• "hangover" effect (drowsiness the day after a dose).

This is not a complete list of side effects and others may also occur. Tell your doctor about any unusual or bothersome side effect.