Phenobarbital As a Treatment for Hyperactivity
Hyperactivity is defined as excessive activity associated with attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD). Approximately 4 to 10 percent of school-aged children are diagnosed with ADHD.
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Barbiturates
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Phenobarbital is classifed as a sedative-hypnotic drug. Phenobarbital is a common drug of the barbiturate family, used to treat seizure disorders like epilepsy. Barbiturates slow brain function and cause a decrease in blood pressure and body temperature in adults.
A medical paradox
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Drugs that stimulate adults can sedate children. Children and adults often react differently to drugs that affect the central nervous system (CNS). CNS depressants can make children hyper, whereas CNS stimulants have the opposite effect on children.
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Seizure Medicine
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Phenobarbital is widely prescribed to prevent febrile seizures in young children, as well as for those with epilepsy. However, the side effects can be daunting. As reported in the medical journal "Pediatrics," 42 percent of 109 children treated daily with phenobarbital after having a febrile seizure "developed a behavior disorder, usually hyperactivity."
Treatment
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As a rule, drugs like phenobarbital are not prescribed for hyperactivity. On WebMD, Drs. Stephen Soreff and Kiki D. Chang say, "stimulants represent the best first-line therapeutic option."
Ritalin
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Ritalin is commonly prescribed to treat hyperactivity. Ritalin (methylphenidate) and amphetamine are the two most frequently prescribed CNS stimulants used to treat ADHD. Ritalin is approved by the Food and Drug Administration for use in children 6 years and older. It is also widely used for treating ADHD in adults.
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