Phenobarbital in prophylaxis of neonatal jaundice. A control trial of two regimens.

The prevention of neonatal hyperbilirubinemia by phenobarbital is widely used in many countries. However, dose and period of administration vary according to authors, as the dose-effect relation is not known and since little research in pharmacokinetics of phenobarbital has been done so far. In the present study we compared the effect on serum bilirubin of a single injection of 10 mg/kg body weight and of a prolonged administration of 10 mg/kg/day during 3 days in premature and full-term newborn infants. The single injection had the same effect as the prolonged administration, provided it was given within 12 h after birth.