264 Mephobarbital
effectiveness of birth control pills and with actions of medicines used to con-
trol epilepsy and blood clotting. Drugs used to treat asthma, blood pressure,
and heart ailment may not work as well if a person also takes mephobarbital.
Cancer.Not enough scientific information to report.
Pregnancy.Additional vitamin K is recommended for pregnant women us-
ing mephobarbital as childbirth approaches, in order to reduce bleeding in
the women and offspring. Mephobarbital can help reduce fetal pulse rate ir-
regularity but has been found to cause birth defects, with the risk malforma-
tions increasing if other antiepileptic drugs are also used. The drug is found
in breast milk of nursing mothers who use the substance.
Additional scientific information may be found in:De Haan, J., and L. Stolte. “Drugs and the Fetal Heart Rate.”British Medical Journal 4
(October 16, 1971): 171.
Willis, J., et al. “Barbiturate Anticonvulsants: A Neuropsychological and Quantitative
Electroencephalographic Study.”Journal of Child Neurology12 (1997): 169–71.
Young, R.S., et al. “A Randomized, Double-Blind, Crossover Study of Phenobarbital
and Mephobarbital.”Journal of Child Neurology1 (1986): 361–63.