title: Adjunctive enteral phenobarbital for adult status epilepticus: a brief report.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Status epilepticus (SE) is a neurological emergency condition. Intravenous phenobarbital (PB) is recommended for refractory SE treatment. However, intravenous PB is unavailable in Thailand. Enteral PB has been shown to be effective in SE children.
  
  
  METHODS
  In adult SE patients, the efficacy of enteral PB as an adjunctive therapy has been reported. This is a case series of adult SE patients who were treated with enteral PB at Khon Kaen University Hospital, Thailand. The clinical features and clinical outcomes are reported.
  
  
  RESULTS
  There were six patients; five patients had convulsive SE, and one patient had nonconvulsive SE. All patients received PB enterally, at dosages of 900 mg initially and repeated doses of 900 mg as needed. This was gradually reduced to a maintenance dosage of 180 mg/day. Three out of six patients were completely controlled, whereas the other three patients were partially controlled. Three out of six patients were seizure-free after the initial loading dose of PB. No adverse effects were found in this study.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  In adult patients, enteral PB may be effective as an add-on for refractory SE therapy.
authors.affiliation: Department of Medicine, Faculty of Medicine, Khon Kaen University, Khon Kaen, Thailand ; Integrated Epilepsy Research Group, Khon Kaen University, Khon Kaen, Thailand.
authors.forename: Somsak
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Tiamkao
authors.affiliation: Department of Medicine, Faculty of Medicine, Khon Kaen University, Khon Kaen, Thailand.
authors.forename: Kornkanok
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Suttapan
authors.affiliation: Integrated Epilepsy Research Group, Khon Kaen University, Khon Kaen, Thailand ; Nursing Division, Srinagarind Hospital, Faculty of Medicine, Khon Kaen University, Khon Kaen, Thailand.
authors.forename: Sineenard
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Pranbul
authors.affiliation: Integrated Epilepsy Research Group, Khon Kaen University, Khon Kaen, Thailand ; Department of Pharmacy, Faculty of Medicine, Khon Kaen University, Khon Kaen, Thailand.
authors.forename: Siriporn
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Tiamkao
authors.affiliation: Department of Medicine, Faculty of Medicine, Khon Kaen University, Khon Kaen, Thailand ; The Research and Training Center for Enhancing Quality of Life of Working-Age People, Khon Kaen University, Khon Kaen, Thailand.
authors.forename: Kittisak
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Sawanyawisuth
keywords: Thailand; clinical outcomes; efficacy; refractory status epilepticus