Phenobarbital Toxicological information
Oral LD50 = 112-137 mg/kg (mouse)
162 mg/kg (rat)
130 mg/kg (Guinea pig)
150 mg/kg (Dog)
Ingestion:
Toxic if swallowed. May cause central nervous system effects (affect behavior). Phenobarbital is a central nervous system (CNS) depressant. Moderateoverdoses may resemble alcohol intoxication. It may cause loss of appetite, nausea, vomiting, stomach pain or cramps, indigestion, diarrhea and/or constipation. It may cloud perception and distorted judgement, inducedrowsiness,somnolence, muscle contraction or spasticity, lethargy, dizziness, headache, nervousness, insomnia, memory problems, halllucinations, irritability, slurredspeech, confusion, ataxia, sleep, nightmares and night terrors, depressedreflexes, and anesthesia. It may also cause respiratory depression(shortnessofbreath, slow or rapid, shallow breathing), pulmonary edema, hypotension, slowheartbeat, hypothermia, coma, shock, and death from respiratory failure. Respiratory depression may lead to metabilic acidosis and hypoxia. Pupilsmayalso be constricted and reactive to light with rapid involuntary movement (nystagmus), and in the late stages may be dilated due to hypoxia. It mayalsoaffect the kidneys (renal tubular transport). It may also cause fever or allergicreaction (dermatitis, and skin rashes)