Can I Stop Taking Phenobarbatal If I Hvaen't Had A Seizure For 10 Years?

Posted on Tue, 26 Sep 2023

Question: I have been taking phenobarbatal for 10 years to control seizures. I take5 64 mg tabs each night. I was told that I could never stop taking this med. By a neurologist. Is that true? I have not had a seizure since 2010.

Answered by Dr. Robert Galamaga (39 minutes later)

Brief Answer:
Considerations

Detailed Answer:
hello and thank you for sending the question.

I'm very happy to hear that you have not had a seizure since 2010. The phenobarbital seems to be doing an excellent job at preventing seizure activity.

Your neurologist has recommended that you continue the maintenance phenobarbital in order to continue to avoid additional seizures.

I believe your neurologist is concerned that if you stop the phenobarbital and have additional seizure in the future it may be more difficult to control the seizure disorder.

For this reason maintenance therapy with the phenobarbital is very reasonable.

as long as you're tolerating this medication without problematic side effects I would continue maintenance therapy for the long term.

Thank you again for sending your question.

Sincerely,

Dr. Galamaga

Above answer was peer-reviewed by : Dr. Prasad