[Evaluation of the prevalence of side effects of phenobarbital in patients in the Champagne-Ardenne region].

Side effects were compared in 454 patients under phenobarbital and in 133 patients under other antiepileptic agents. Prevalence of adverse effects was 12% and 4% in these two groups, respectively. The fairly low prevalence of untoward reactions to phenobarbital in this study as compared with previously published reports is due to the methodology used. Despite unquestionable drawbacks, especially in patients above 50 years of age at first use, phenobarbital is a valuable therapeutic alternative in some cases.