Presumed phenobarbital-induced Stevens–Johnson syndrome in a 4-year-old female Great Dane

High-Dose Phenobarbital-Induced Vitamin K Deficiency and Petechial Haemorrhage in a Young Female

“…Phenobarbital is a century-old anticonvulsant drug widely used up to 1970s worldwide [1,2]. Phenobarbital is a common therapeutic agent causing a number of potential adverse drug events reported worldwide including bleeding disorder, systemic reactions and mil-to-severe skin reactions [6][7][8][9][10][11][12][13]. Blood coagulopathy is a well recognized adverse event associated with phenobarbital mostly reported in neonates [15][16][17].…”

“…Because of the withdrawal syndromes (generally, at a dose of 4-6 times higher than the recommended dose) upon discontinuation of short-acting barbiturates, the Narcotics Expert Committee at the World Health Organization restricted the use of barbiturates without having medical prescription [1]. Since 1950s, phenobarbital-induced Adverse Drug Reactions (ADRs) such as, exfoliative dermatitis, Agranulocytosis, megaloblastic anemia, 'shoulder-hand' syndrome, osteomalacia, and Stevens-Johnson syndrome have been reported both in human and animal [6][7][8][9][10][11][12][13]. Vitamin K deficiency-associated bleeding disorder in neonates as a result of using phenobarbital during maternal age for epilepsy management has been reported in multiple studies [14][15][16][17].…”

Suspected phenobarbital-induced fever in a cat

“…Similar reports of anticonvulsant-related syndromes have been reported in dogs and cats, as well as other hematologic and biochemical abnormalities. [5][6][7][8][9] Pseudolymphoma secondary to phenobarbital administration has been reported in one dog and two cats, characterized by fever and generalized lymphadenopathy that resolved after discontinuation of the medication. [10][11][12] A recent report of similar signs in a cat occurred during treatment with multiple anticonvulsants and resolved after discontinuation of zonisamide.…”