Behavioural effects of phenobarbitone and phenytoin in small children.
Mothers of 56 children under 2 years old taking phenobarbitone and mothers of 55 children taking phenytoin recorded on questionnaires changes they had noted in the children's behaviour 3 and 9 weeks after starting the drug. Severe behavioural disturbance was noted by many, but the pattern and incidence was similar to that recorded by the mothers of 50 children starting a placebo, and we attribute it to the effect of a recent hospital admission. There was a small improvement in the behaviour of 20% of children who had been taking phenobarbitone for a year when they stopped it, but in this age group the disturbance caused by phenobarbitone did not appear to have been great.
D002653:Child Behavior Disorders / Q000139:chemically induced*; D005260:Female; D006760:Hospitalization; D006801:Humans; D007223:Infant; D008297:Male; D010634:Phenobarbital / Q000009:adverse effects*; D010672:Phenytoin / Q000009:adverse effects*; D003294:Seizures, Febrile / Q000517:prevention & control
D010672:Phenytoin; D010634:Phenobarbital