Phenobarbital Treatment in Neonatal Jaundice

Phenobarbital was once used to treat infant jaundice, a sometimes-serious condition affecting many newborns.

Since the mid-20th century, however, it has been replaced by phototherapy, which treats the baby with light.

Jaundice

• Neonatal jaundice is caused by a buildup of bilirubin in the baby's blood. Sometimes, for a variety of reasons, the infant's liver isn't able to process bilirubin, resulting in jaundice, according to MedlinePlus.

Rationale

• Because phenobarbital enhances liver function, it was used to treat jaundice, according to "Chemical & Engineering News." Phototherapy replaced phenobarbital as the standard treatment in the 1950s.

Current treatment

• Infant jaundice often doesn't require treatment, beyond frequent feedings. If the problem persists, the next step is phototherapy, according to MedlinePlus.

  In phototherapy, the infant is treated with special lights. The baby's body absorbs the light, helping break down and eliminate the bilirubin.

Advanced Therapy

• In severe cases, an exchange transfusion (the baby's blood is replaced with fresh blood) or intravenous immunoglobulin may be required.

Other Uses

• Since phenobarbital improves liver function, one possible approach is to give it to mothers just before they give birth to help prevent jaundice. However, there's been insufficient research to support such treatment, according to a 2007 Cochran review of the literature.