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POM-V Prescription Required Companion Animal

Phenotab Flavoured 25 mg Tablets for Dogs

Active ingredient: Phenobarbital

Form

Tablet

Species

Dogs

Manufacturer

CP Pharma Handelsgesellschaft mbH

VMD MA No.

20916/4032

What it's used for

Prevention of seizures due to generalised epilepsy.

Full indications, dosage and side effects ↓
View official SPC (PDF)

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Paying less for Phenobarbital

  1. 1

    Ask your vet for a written prescription

    They must provide one on request. Under the CMA Order the fee is capped at £21 from 2027.

  2. 2

    Fill it at a registered online retailer

    The CMA found online pharmacies 50–60% cheaper than practice dispensing on common medicines — typically £200–£300 a year.

Prescription required

Your vet must provide a written prescription on request. You can then purchase from any licensed online retailer.

Clinical information

Phenotab Flavoured 25 mg Tablets for Dogs — SPC Details

Source: VMD Summary of Product Characteristics (SPC). Last updated 26 Mar 2026.

Prevention of seizures due to generalised epilepsy.
Oral use
Dosage
The recommended starting dose is 2.5 mg phenobarbital per kg body weight
(equivalent to 1 tablet per 10 kg), administered twice daily.
Due to the cross-shaped score line, the tablets can be divided into two equal halves
(12.5 mg phenobarbital) or four equal quarters (6.25 mg phenobarbital). Divided
tablets should be used at the next administration.
Tablets must be given at the same time each day to achieve successful therapy.
Steady state serum concentrations are not reached until 1-2 weeks after treatment is
initiated. The full effect of the medication does not appear for two weeks and doses
should not be increased during this time.
Any adjustments to the starting dose are best made on the basis of clinical efficacy,
blood concentrations of phenobarbital and the occurrence of undesired effects.
Determining blood levels is essential for a correct therapy. The phenobarbital levels
considered therapeutically effective vary from 15 to 40 μg/ml.
Due to differences in the excretion of phenobarbital and differences in sensitivity the
final effective doses may vary considerably between patients (from 1 mg to 15 mg/kg
body weight twice a day).
In case of insufficient therapeutic efficacy, the dosage can be increased in steps of
20% at a time, with associated monitoring of serum phenobarbital levels.
If the seizures are not being satisfactorily prevented and if the maximum level
concentration is about 40 μg/ml, then the diagnosis should be reconsidered and/or a
second antiepileptic product (such as bromides) should be added to the treatment
protocol.

Issued: August 2020
AN: 00404/2019
Plasma concentrations should always be interpreted in conjunction with the observed
response to therapy and a full clinical assessment including monitoring for evidence
of toxic effects in each animal.
Do not use in known cases of hypersensitivity to the active substance, any of the
excipients or other barbiturates. Do not use in animals with severe liver disease.
Do not use in animals with serious renal or cardiovascular disorders.
Occasionally polyphagia, polyuria and polydipsia have been reported, but these
effects are usually transitory and disappear with continued medication.
Toxicity may develop at doses over 20 mg/kg/day or when serum phenobarbital
levels rise above 45μg/ml.
At the start of therapy, ataxia and sedation can occur, but these effects are usually
transitory and disappear in most, but not all, patients with continued medication.
Some animals can demonstrate a paradoxical hyperexcitability, particularly after first
starting therapy. As this hyperexcitability is not linked to overdosage, no reduction of
dosage is needed. Sedation and ataxia often become significant concerns as serum
levels reach the higher ends of the therapeutic range. High plasma concentrations
may be associated with hepatotoxicity. Phenobarbital can have deleterious effects on
stem cells from bone marrow. Consequences are immunotoxic pancytopenia and/or
neutropenia. These reactions disappear after the treatment’s withdrawal. Treating
dogs with phenobarbital may lower their TT4 or FT4 serum levels, however this may
not be an indication of hypothyroidism. Treatment with thyroid hormone replacement
should only be started if there are clinical signs of the disease.
If adverse effects are severe, a decrease in the administered dose is recommended.
It is recommended that the clinical pathology of the patient is monitored, the first time
2-3 weeks after initiation of therapy and subsequently every 4-6 months. It is
important to know that the effects of hypoxia can cause increased levels of hepatic
enzymes after a seizure.
Long-term therapy with phenobarbital results in habituation and dependence, which
can lead to a spontaneous return of symptoms upon sudden discontinuation of
therapy.
To achieve successful therapy, administration of tablets at the same time each day is
essential.

Issued: August 2020
AN: 00404/2019
Some of the dogs are free of epileptic seizures during the treatment, but some of the
dogs show only a seizure reduction, and some of the dogs are considered to be non-
responders.

Special precautions for use in animals
Caution is required in animals with impaired liver and / or renal function,
hypovolaemia, anemia and cardiac or respiratory dysfunction.
It is recommended to evaluate hepatic function prior to initiation of the therapy. The
chance of hepatotoxic side effects can be diminished or delayed using an effective
dose that is low as possible.
Phenobarbital may increase the activity of serum alkaline phosphatase and
transaminases. These may demonstrate non-pathological changes, but an increase
in the activity of serum alkaline phosphatase and transaminases could also represent
hepatotoxicity. Therefore, in the case of suspected hepatotoxicity, liver function tests
are recommended.
Withdrawal of phenobarbital or transition to or from another type of antiepileptic
therapy should be made gradually to avoid precipitating an increase in the frequency
of seizures.
In stabilized epileptic patients, caution should be taken when switching between
phenobarbital formulations.
The tablets are flavoured. In order to avoid any accidental ingestion, store tablets out
of reach of the animals.
Special precautions to be taken by the person administering the veterinary medicinal
product to animals
Barbiturates can cause hypersensitivity. People with known hypersensitivity to
barbiturates should avoid contact with the product.
Accidental ingestion may cause intoxication and could be fatal, particularly for
children. Take utmost care that children do not come in contact with the product.
Keep this product in its original packaging to avoid accidental ingestion. Each time an
unused part-tablet is stored until next use, it should be returned to the open blister
space and inserted back into the cardboard box. In case of accidental ingestion, seek
medical attention immediately and show the package leaflet or the label to the
physician.
Phenobarbital is teratogenic and may be toxic to unborn and breastfed children; it
may affect the developing brain and lead to cognitive disorders. Phenobarbital is
excreted in breast milk. Pregnant women, women of childbearing age and women
who are breastfeeding should avoid accidental ingestion due to hand-to-mouth
contact and prolonged skin contact with the product.
It is advisable to wear disposable gloves during administration of the product to
reduce skin contact with the product.
Wash hands thoroughly after use.

Issued: August 2020
AN: 00404/2019
Issued: August 2020
AN: 00404/2019
A therapeutic dose of phenobarbital for antiepileptic therapy can significantly induce
plasma proteins, (such as α1acid glycoprotein, AGP), which bind drugs.
Phenobarbital may reduce the activity of some drugs (e.g. antiepileptics,
chloramphenicol, corticosteroids, doxycycline, beta blockers and metronidazole) by
increasing the rate of metabolism through induction of drug-metabolising enzymes in
liver microsomes. Therefore special attention must be paid to the pharmacokinetics
and doses of drugs simultaneously administered. The plasmatic concentration of a
range of drugs (for example cyclosporine, thyroid hormones and theophylline) is
decreased in the case of concurrent administration of phenobarbital. Concurrent use
with other drugs having a central depressive action (like
narcotic analgesics, morphinic derivates, phenothiazines, antihistamines,
clomipramine and chloramphenicol) can increase the effect of phenobarbital.
Cimetidine and ketoconazole are inhibitors of hepatic enzymes: concurrent use with
phenobarbital can induce an increase of serum concentration of phenobarbital.
Phenobarbital may decrease the absorption of griseofulvin. Concurrent use with
potassium bromide increases the risk of pancreatitis. Use of phenobarbital tablets in
conjunction with primidone is not recommended as primidone is predominantly
metabolized to phenobarbital.
The following drugs can decrease the convulsive threshold: quinolones, high doses
of β-lactam antibiotic, theophylline, aminophylline, cyclosporine and propofol for
example. Medications which may alter the seizure threshold should only be used if
really necessary and when no safer alternative exists.
This veterinary medicinal product does not require any special storage conditions.
Keep the blister in the outer carton.
Any remaining portions of divided tablets should be returned in the opened blister
and given at the next administration.
Not applicable.
5.

This information is sourced from the official Summary of Product Characteristics (SPC) published by the Veterinary Medicines Directorate (VMD). It is provided for informational purposes only and does not replace professional veterinary advice. Always consult your vet before administering any medication.

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