Luminal 30mg Tablet
Product Info
| Prescription required | Yes |
| Marketer | Bayer Pharmaceuticals Pvt Ltd |
| Active Ingredient | Phenobarbitone (30mg) |
| Storage | Store below 30°C |
| Chemical Class | Barbituric Acid Derivative |
| Habit Forming | Yes |
| Therapeutic Class | NEURO CNS |
| Action Class | Barbiturate |
| User Rating | 4.9 |
| User Reviews | 785 |
FAQ
Can I take folic acid with Luminal 30mg?
Luminal 30mg causes folic acid deficiency which is responsible for certain types of anemia (megaloblastic anemia) in some patients. But if you take folic acid, then it may decrease the levels of Luminal 30mg in your body. This may lead to seizures. Therefore, folic acid should be avoided.
Can Luminal 30mg cause withdrawal symptoms?
Yes, suddenly stopping Luminal 30mg can cause withdrawal symptoms which include sleeplessness, anxiety, tremor, dizziness, nausea, fits, and delirium.
What are the effects of Luminal 30mg in children?
Luminal 30mg is useful in treating many kinds of seizures in children. It is often considered as the first choice to treat certain kinds of seizures in newborns. The child taking Luminal 30mg treatment may develop problems with behavior and learning. Side effects are much more likely to be troublesome if high doses are given or if too high a dose is given at the beginning of the treatment. It may be necessary to increase the dose very slowly over several months.
What is Luminal 30mg used for?
Luminal 30mg is prescribed to control seizures or fits. Luminal 30mg belongs to barbiturate group of medicines. In exceptional circumstances, it is also used to treat seizures that sometimes accompany a high fever in children.
What are the long-term side effects of Luminal 30mg?
Long-term use of phenobarbital can lead to changes in the soft tissues of the body. Symptoms include pain in the joints or thickening in areas such as the palm or the bottom of the foot. If you notice any changes of this kind, tell the doctor.
Can I stop taking Luminal 30mg once my seizures get controlled?
No, you should not stop taking Luminal 30mg without consulting your doctor. Sudden withdrawal can cause sleeplessness, anxiety, tremor, dizziness, feeling sick, fits and delirium. The dose of Luminal 30mg should be reduced gradually.
Can Luminal 30mg cause addiction?
Yes, Luminal 30mg may cause addiction in patients with a history of alcoholism and drug abuse if they take it for a prolonged time. Therefore, Luminal 30mg should be avoided in such patients.
What if I forget to take Luminal 30mg?
If you forget to take a dose, take it as soon as you remember. However, if it is time for the next dose, skip the forgotten dose and take the next dose. Do not double the dose to make up for the forgotten dose.
Are there any tests available which check the levels of Luminal 30mg in the blood?
Yes, laboratory tests are available. If you feel excessively sleepy and experience tremor or balance issues or double vision, inform your doctor and get the levels checked.
For how long do I need to take Luminal 30mg?
You should take Luminal 30mg for the duration advised by your doctor. This drug has a habit-forming effect, therefore, its long-term use is not recommended.
What will happen if I accidentally take more than the recommended dose of Luminal 30mg?
Swallowing more than the recommended doses may cause drowsiness, speech problems, jerky movements, jerky eye movements, loss of inhibition, reduced reflex response, low body temperature, low blood pressure and breathing problems. Contact your nearest hospital emergency services or your doctor immediately.
Luminal 30mg Tablet Reviews
Luminal 30mg belongs to a class of medicines called barbiturates. It is used to treat and prevent epilepsy (seizures). They also have hypnotic properties. This means, they slow down the activity of the brain and can make you feel sleepy or dizzy.
Luminal 30mg may be taken with or without food. However, it is advised to take it at the same time each day as this helps to maintain a consistent level of medicine in the body. Take this medicine in the dose and duration as advised by your doctor as it may be habit-forming with long-term use. If you have missed a dose, take it as soon as you remember it. Do not skip any doses and finish the full course of treatment even if you feel better.
Some common side effects of this medicine include nausea, diarrhea, hyperactivity, depression, confusion, decreased blood pressure, and fatigue. It may also cause dizziness and sleepiness, so do not drive or do anything that requires mental focus until you know how this medicine affects you.
Remember to consult your doctor if you notice severe rashes, especially accompanied by fever after taking this medicine. It should be noted that long-term use of this medicine can cause pain in joints also.
Luminal 30mg may be taken with or without food. However, it is advised to take it at the same time each day as this helps to maintain a consistent level of medicine in the body. Take this medicine in the dose and duration as advised by your doctor as it may be habit-forming with long-term use. If you have missed a dose, take it as soon as you remember it. Do not skip any doses and finish the full course of treatment even if you feel better.
Some common side effects of this medicine include nausea, diarrhea, hyperactivity, depression, confusion, decreased blood pressure, and fatigue. It may also cause dizziness and sleepiness, so do not drive or do anything that requires mental focus until you know how this medicine affects you.
Remember to consult your doctor if you notice severe rashes, especially accompanied by fever after taking this medicine. It should be noted that long-term use of this medicine can cause pain in joints also.
How Luminal 30mg Tablet Works
Luminal 30mg controls seizures or fits by increasing the action of GABA, a chemical messenger which suppresses the abnormal and excessive activity of the nerve cells in the brain.
How to Use Luminal 30mg Tablet
Take this medicine in the dose and duration as advised by your doctor. Swallow it as a whole. Do not chew, crush or break it. Luminal 30mg may be taken with or without food, but it is better to take it at a fixed time.
Benefits of Luminal 30mg Tablet
- In Epilepsy/Seizures: Luminal 30mg slows down electrical signals in the brain which cause seizures (fits). It can also help reduce symptoms such as confusion, uncontrollable jerking movements, loss of awareness, and fear or anxiety. The medicine can allow you to do some activities that you would otherwise be forbidden or scared to do (such as swimming and driving). It can take a few weeks for this medicine to work (because the dose has to be increased slowly) and during this time you may still have seizures. Do not stop using this medicine even if you feel well, until your doctor advises you to. Missing doses may trigger a seizure.
Uses of Luminal 30mg Tablet
- Epilepsy/Seizures
Luminal 30mg Tablet Side Effects
Safety Tips
Liver
CAUTION
Luminal 30mg should be used with caution in patients with liver disease. Dose adjustment of Luminal 30mg may be needed. Please consult your doctor.Use of Luminal 30mg is not recommended in patients with severe liver disease.
Pregnancy
CONSULT YOUR DOCTOR
Luminal 30mg is unsafe to use during pregnancy as there is definite evidence of risk to the developing baby. However, the doctor may rarely prescribe it in some life-threatening situations if the benefits are more than the potential risks. Please consult your doctor.
Alcohol
UNSAFE
It is unsafe to consume alcohol with Luminal 30mg.
Kidney
CAUTION
Luminal 30mg should be used with caution in patients with kidney disease. Dose adjustment of Luminal 30mg may be needed. Please consult your doctor.Use of Luminal 30mg is not recommended in patients with severe kidney disease.
Driving
UNSAFE
Luminal 30mg may cause side effects which could affect your ability to drive.
Breast feeding
CONSULT YOUR DOCTOR
Luminal 30mg is probably unsafe to use during breastfeeding. Limited human data suggests that the drug may pass into the breastmilk and harm the baby.Monitor the baby for sleepiness, skin rash, and feeding issues.
Quick Tips
- It may be habit-forming with long-term use.
- It may make you very sleepy. Don't drive or do anything that requires mental focus until you know how it affects you.
- Do not stop taking the medication suddenly without talking to your doctor.
- Luminal 30mg helps in treatment and prevention of seizures.
- Inform your doctor if you notice pain in your joints or if you have a history of bone disease.
- Talk to your doctor immediately if you notice skin rash accompanied with fever.
- Get regular blood tests done to monitor the amount of medication in your body.
- Talk with your doctor if it stops working well. Do not take more than prescribed.
References
- Porters RJ, Meldrum BS. Antiseizure Drugs. In: Katzung BG, Masters SB, Trevor AJ, editors. Basic and Clinical Pharmacology. 11th ed. New Delhi, India: Tata McGraw Hill Education Private Limited; 2009. p. 407.
- McNamara JO. Pharmacotherapy of the Epilepsies. In: Brunton LL, Chabner BA, Knollmann BC, editors. Goodman & Gilman’s: The Pharmacological Basis of Therapeutics. 12th ed. New York, New York: McGraw-Hill Medical; 2011. pp. 593-94.
- Phenobarbitone. Huddersfield, West Yorks: Thornton & Ross Ltd.; 1982 [revised 27 Jan. 2016].
- Briggs GG, Freeman RK, editors. A Reference Guide to Fetal and Neonatal Risk: Drugs in Pregnancy and Lactation. 10th ed. Philadelphia, PA: Wolters Kluwer Health; 2015. pp. 1101-104.
- Drugs and Lactation Database (LactMed) [Internet]. Bethesda (MD): National Library of Medicine (US); 2006. Phenobarbital. [Updated 2018 Oct 31].