Methylphenobarbital
Encyclopedia
Methylphenobarbital also known as mephobarbital (USAN
, JAN
) and mephobarbitone (BAN
), marketed under brand names such as Mebaral, Mephyltaletten, Phemiton, and Prominal, is a drug
which is a barbiturate
derivative and is used primarily as an anticonvulsant
, but also as a sedative
and anxiolytic
. It is the N-methylated analogue of phenobarbital
and has similar indications, therapeutic value, and tolerability.
, fever
, irritability, hypothermia, poor judgment, shortness of breath or slow/troubled breathing, slow heartbeat, slurred speech, staggering, trouble in sleeping, unusual movements of the eyes, weakness.
synthesis, except one uses methylurea instead.
United States Adopted Name
United States Adopted Names are unique nonproprietary names assigned to pharmaceuticals marketed in the United States. Each name is assigned by the USAN Council, which is co-sponsored by the American Medical Association , the United States Pharmacopeial Convention , and the American Pharmacists...
, JAN
Japanese Approved Name
A Japanese Approved Name is the official non-proprietary or generic name given to a pharmaceutical substance by the government of Japan.- See also :* International Nonproprietary Name * United States Adopted Name...
) and mephobarbitone (BAN
British Approved Name
A British Approved Name is the official non-proprietary or generic name given to a pharmaceutical substance, as defined in the British Pharmacopoeia...
), marketed under brand names such as Mebaral, Mephyltaletten, Phemiton, and Prominal, is a drug
Drug
A drug, broadly speaking, is any substance that, when absorbed into the body of a living organism, alters normal bodily function. There is no single, precise definition, as there are different meanings in drug control law, government regulations, medicine, and colloquial usage.In pharmacology, a...
which is a barbiturate
Barbiturate
Barbiturates are drugs that act as central nervous system depressants, and can therefore produce a wide spectrum of effects, from mild sedation to total anesthesia. They are also effective as anxiolytics, as hypnotics, and as anticonvulsants...
derivative and is used primarily as an anticonvulsant
Anticonvulsant
The anticonvulsants are a diverse group of pharmaceuticals used in the treatment of epileptic seizures. Anticonvulsants are also increasingly being used in the treatment of bipolar disorder, since many seem to act as mood stabilizers, and in the treatment of neuropathic pain. The goal of an...
, but also as a sedative
Sedative
A sedative or tranquilizer is a substance that induces sedation by reducing irritability or excitement....
and anxiolytic
Anxiolytic
An anxiolytic is a drug used for the treatment of anxiety, and its related psychological and physical symptoms...
. It is the N-methylated analogue of phenobarbital
Phenobarbital
Phenobarbital or phenobarbitone is a barbiturate, first marketed as Luminal by Friedr. Bayer et comp. It is the most widely used anticonvulsant worldwide, and the oldest still commonly used. It also has sedative and hypnotic properties but, as with other barbiturates, has been superseded by the...
and has similar indications, therapeutic value, and tolerability.
Approval History
- 1935 Mebaral was introduced by Winthrop Pharmaceuticals.
- 2001 Methylphenobarbital discontinued in the UK.
- 2003 Mebaral acquired by Ovation Pharmaceuticals (a specialty pharmaceutical company that acquired underpromoted branded pharmaceutical products).
- 2009 Ovation was acquired by LundbeckLundbeckH. Lundbeck A/S is a Danish international pharmaceutical company engaged in the research and development, production, marketing, and sale of drugs for the treatment of disorders in the central nervous system , including depression, schizophrenia, Alzheimer’s disease, Parkinson’s disease,...
, which now markets Mebaral. However, Lundbeck recently announced that they are abandoning the product because, under the FDA unapproved-drug campaign, FDA is no longer willing to allow it to be grandfathered. A new drug application was never submitted to the FDA to gain marketing approval. The drug will no longer be available when supplies are depleted, which is anticipated by the end of 2011.
Overdose
Symptoms of overdose of mephobarbital include confusion, decrease in or loss of reflexes, somnolenceSomnolence
Somnolence is a state of near-sleep, a strong desire for sleep, or sleeping for unusually long periods . It has two distinct meanings, referring both to the usual state preceding falling asleep, and the chronic condition referring to being in that state independent of a circadian rhythm...
, fever
Fever
Fever is a common medical sign characterized by an elevation of temperature above the normal range of due to an increase in the body temperature regulatory set-point. This increase in set-point triggers increased muscle tone and shivering.As a person's temperature increases, there is, in...
, irritability, hypothermia, poor judgment, shortness of breath or slow/troubled breathing, slow heartbeat, slurred speech, staggering, trouble in sleeping, unusual movements of the eyes, weakness.
Chemistry
Mephobarbital (5-ethyl-1-methyl-5-phenylbarbituric acid) is synthesized according to one of the diagrams used for the phenobarbitalPhenobarbital
Phenobarbital or phenobarbitone is a barbiturate, first marketed as Luminal by Friedr. Bayer et comp. It is the most widely used anticonvulsant worldwide, and the oldest still commonly used. It also has sedative and hypnotic properties but, as with other barbiturates, has been superseded by the...
synthesis, except one uses methylurea instead.
- W. Kropp, L. Taub, (1929).