Summary
Plasma concentrations of phenobarbital were measured in 18 newborn infants for one to two weeks after birth. The drug had been administered prenatally to the mothers as part of treatment for maternal hypertension or toxaemia. The plasma half-life of the drug in the infants (77–404 h) was inversely correlated with the extent of prenatal exposure to it. In three infants a bi-phasic plasma curve was found as there was a sudden change from slow to fast disappearance on the 5th to 7th day of life.
Similar content being viewed by others
References
Melchior, J.C., Svensmark, O., Trolle, D.: Placental transfer of phenobarbitone in epileptic women, and elimination in newborns. Lancet 1967II, 860–861
Heinze, E., Kampffmeyer, H.G.: Biological half-life of phenobarbital in human babies. Klin. Wschr.49, 1146–1147 (1971)
Kållberg, N., Agurell, S., Jalling, B., Boréus, L.O.: Rapid gas chromatographic determination of phenobarbital in small plasma samples. Europ. J. clin. Pharmacol.3, 185–188 (1971)
Riegelman, S., Loo, J.C.K., Rowland, M.: Shortcomings in pharmacokinetic analysis by conceiving the body to exhibit properties of a single compartment. J. Pharm. Sci.57, 117–123 (1968)
Garrettson, L.K., Dayton, P.G.: Disappearance of phenobarbital and diphenylhydantoin from serum of children. Clin. Pharmacol. Ther.11, 674–679 (1970)
Lous, P.: Plasma levels and urinary excretion of three barbituric acids after oral administration to man. Acta pharmacol. (Kbh.)10, 147–165 (1954)
Butler, T.C., Mahaffee, C., Waddell, W.J.: Phenobarbital: Studies of elimination, accumulation, tolerance and dosage schedules. J. Pharmacol. exp. Ther.111, 425–435 (1954)
Svensmark, O., Buchthal, F.: Accumulation of phenobarbital in man. Epilepsia4, 199–206 (1963)
Bloomer, H.A.: A critical evaluation of diuresis in the treatment of barbiturate intoxication. J. Lab. clin. Med.67, 898–905 (1966)
Lous, P.: Blood serum and cerebrospinal fluid levels and renal clearance of phenemal in treated epileptics. Acta pharmacol. (Kbh.)10, 166–177 (1954)
von Bahr, C., Orrenius, S.: Spectral studies on the interaction of imipramine and some of its oxidized metabolites with rat liver microsomes. Xenobiotica1, 69–78 (1971)
Ashley, J.J., Levy, G.: Inhibition of diphenylhydantoin elimination by its major metabolite. Res. Commun. chem. Pathol. Pharmacol.4, 297–306 (1972)
Mirkin, B.L.: Diphenylhydantoin: Placental transport, fetal localization, neonatal metabolism and possible teratogenic effects. J. Pediat.78, 329–337 (1971)
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Rights and permissions
About this article
Cite this article
Jalling, B., Boréus, L.O., Kållberg, N. et al. Disappearance from the newborn of circulating prenatally administered phenobarbital. Eur J Clin Pharmacol 6, 234–238 (1973). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00644738
Received:
Issue Date:
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00644738