If you are taking this medicine to treat insomnia, take it only at bedtime. Do not use secobarbital for longer than 2 weeks to treat insomnia, unless your doctor has told you to.

Do not change your dose of secobarbital without your doctor's advice. Tell your doctor if the medication does not seem to work as well in treating your condition.

Keep track of how many pills have been used from each new bottle of this medicine. Secobarbital is a drug of abuse and you should be aware if any person in the household is using this medicine improperly or without a prescription.

What happens if I miss a dose?

Take the missed dose as soon as you remember. Take secobarbital only when you are getting ready for several hours of sleep. If you do not have time to get a full night's sleep after taking the medication, skip the missed dose and take the medicine at your next regularly scheduled sleep time. Do not take extra medicine to make up the missed dose.

What happens if I overdose?

An overdose of secobarbital can be fatal.

Overdose symptoms may include slow or shallow breathing, blurred vision, extreme drowsiness, feeling light-headed, or fainting.

What should I avoid while taking secobarbital?

Secobarbital can cause side effects that may impair your thinking or reactions. Be careful if you drive or do anything that requires you to be awake and alert. Cold or allergy medicine, narcotic pain medicine, sleeping pills, muscle relaxers, and medicine for seizures, depression or anxiety can add to sleepiness caused by secobarbital. Tell your doctor if you regularly use any of these other medicines. Avoid drinking alcohol. It can increase some of the side effects of secobarbital.

What are the possible side effects of secobarbital?

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.

Page: < Back 1 2 3 Next >