Treating neonatal jaundice with phenobarbitone: the inadvertant administration of significant doses of ethyl alcohol.

Development and Chemical Stability Studies of Alcohol-Free Phenobarbital Solution for Use in Pediatrics: a Technical Note

“…It also reduces or controls seizures or convulsions, except for absence (petit mal) seizures (1,2). Generic Phenobarbital oral elixir is available containing a high amount of alcohol which can increase possible unpleasant effects.…”

Passive and iontophoretic transdermal delivery of phenobarbital: Implications in paediatric therapy

“…Regular administration of this elixir may cause alcohol toxicity, especially in neonates. As consequence, extemporaneous formulations, including suspensions from crushed tablets, are sometimes prepared (Cober and Johnson, 2007;Colquhoun-Flannery and Wheeler, 1992). Slow intravenous injections are also frequently used, but care must be taken to dilute the parenteral formulation (200 mg mL −1 phenobarbital in 90% propylene glycol) to provide suitable doses for young infants and children and to avoid accumulation of the cosolvent (Allagaert et al, 2010;BNF for children, 2011).…”