phenobarbital

American  

[fee-noh-bahr-bi-tawl, -tal, -nuh-] / ˌfi noʊˈbɑr bɪˌtɔl, -ˌtæl, -nə- /

especially British, phenobarbitone

noun

Pharmacology.

1. a white, crystalline powder, C 1 2 H 1 2 N 2 O 3 , used as a sedative, a hypnotic, and as an antispasmodic in epilepsy.

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phenobarbital British  

/ ˌfiːnəʊˈbɑːbɪtəl /

noun

1. a white crystalline derivative of barbituric acid used as a sedative for treating insomnia and as an anticonvulsant in epilepsy. Formula: C 12 H 12 N 2 O 3

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phenobarbital Scientific  

/ fē′nō-bär′bĭ-tôl′,-tăl′ /

1. A crystalline barbiturate used as a sedative and an anticonvulsant. Chemical formula: C ₁₂ H ₁₂ N ₂ O ₃ .

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Etymology

Origin of phenobarbital

First recorded in 1915–20; pheno- + barbital

Example Sentences

Because young Walter had a heart condition, his parents left him behind in a convalescent home, where he spent months drugged on phenobarbital like Beth Harmon, the main character in “The Queen’s Gambit.”

From New York Times

Treatment with steroids, phenobarbital and Valium failed to curb the symptoms of his epilepsy.

From New York Times

In the first episode, Chris calmly told a tale about stealing phenobarbital from a veterinarian, after initially trying to pretend his cat was having seizures.

From BBC

A piano rises and falls, Lana croaks through her tears, the best/worst girlfriend of all time, and edges towards the nightstand where she keeps the phenobarbital.

From The Guardian

For years, Julieta has taken phenobarbital to control her convulsions, but the drug is risky for premutation carriers like her, who may be particularly vulnerable to its neurotoxic effects.

From Science Magazine