Author Details
Written By
BDS
Reviewed By
DM, MD
Last updated
06 Dec 2023 | 05:39 PM (IST)

We provide you with authentic, trustworthy and relevant information

Want to know more

Have issue with the content?

Report Problem

Gardenal 20mg/5ml Syrup

Prescription Required
Marketer
Storage
Store below 30°C

Product introduction

Gardenal 20mg/5ml Syrup belongs to a class of medicines called barbiturates. It is used to treat and prevent epilepsy (seizures). They also have hypnotic properties. This means, they slow down the activity of the brain and can make you feel sleepy or dizzy.

Gardenal 20mg/5ml Syrup may be taken with or without food. However, it is advised to take it at the same time each day as this helps to maintain a consistent level of medicine in the body. Take this medicine in the dose and duration as advised by your doctor as it may be habit-forming with long-term use. If you have missed a dose, take it as soon as you remember it. Do not skip any doses and finish the full course of treatment even if you feel better.

Some common side effects of this medicine include nausea, diarrhea, hyperactivity, depression, confusion, decreased blood pressure, and fatigue. It may also cause dizziness and sleepiness, so do not drive or do anything that requires mental focus until you know how this medicine affects you.

Remember to consult your doctor if you notice severe rashes, especially accompanied by fever after taking this medicine. It should be noted that long-term use of this medicine can cause pain in joints also.

Uses of Gardenal Syrup

Benefits of Gardenal Syrup

In Epilepsy/Seizures

Gardenal 20mg/5ml Syrup slows down electrical signals in the brain which cause seizures (fits). It can also help reduce symptoms such as confusion, uncontrollable jerking movements, loss of awareness, and fear or anxiety. The medicine can allow you to do some activities that you would otherwise be forbidden or scared to do (such as swimming and driving). It can take a few weeks for this medicine to work (because the dose has to be increased slowly) and during this time you may still have seizures. Do not stop using this medicine even if you feel well, until your doctor advises you to. Missing doses may trigger a seizure.

Side effects of Gardenal Syrup

Most side effects do not require any medical attention and disappear as your body adjusts to the medicine. Consult your doctor if they persist or if you’re worried about them

Common side effects of Gardenal

  • Drowsiness
  • Nausea
  • Diarrhea
  • Hyperactivity
  • Depression
  • Confusion
  • Decreased blood pressure
  • Fatigue
  • Headache
  • Dizziness
  • Constipation
  • Excitement
  • Hangover

How to use Gardenal Syrup

Take this medicine in the dose and duration as advised by your doctor. Check the label for directions before use. Measure it with a measuring cup and take it by mouth. Shake well before use. Gardenal 20mg/5ml Syrup may be taken with or without food, but it is better to take it at a fixed time.

How Gardenal Syrup works

Gardenal 20mg/5ml Syrup controls seizures or fits by increasing the action of GABA, a chemical messenger which suppresses the abnormal and excessive activity of the nerve cells in the brain.

Safety advice

Alcohol
UNSAFE
It is unsafe to consume alcohol with Gardenal 20mg/5ml Syrup.
Pregnancy
CONSULT YOUR DOCTOR
Gardenal 20mg/5ml Syrup is unsafe to use during pregnancy as there is definite evidence of risk to the developing baby. However, the doctor may rarely prescribe it in some life-threatening situations if the benefits are more than the potential risks. Please consult your doctor.
Breast feeding
CONSULT YOUR DOCTOR
Gardenal 20mg/5ml Syrup is probably unsafe to use during breastfeeding. Limited human data suggests that the drug may pass into the breastmilk and harm the baby.
Monitor the baby for sleepiness, skin rash, and feeding issues.
Driving
UNSAFE
Gardenal 20mg/5ml Syrup may cause side effects which could affect your ability to drive.
Kidney
CAUTION
Gardenal 20mg/5ml Syrup should be used with caution in patients with kidney disease. Dose adjustment of Gardenal 20mg/5ml Syrup may be needed. Please consult your doctor.
Use of Gardenal 20mg/5ml Syrup is not recommended in patients with severe kidney disease.
Liver
CAUTION
Gardenal 20mg/5ml Syrup should be used with caution in patients with liver disease. Dose adjustment of Gardenal 20mg/5ml Syrup may be needed. Please consult your doctor.
Use of Gardenal 20mg/5ml Syrup is not recommended in patients with severe liver disease.

All substitutes

For informational purposes only. Consult a doctor before taking any medicines.
No substitutes found for this medicine

Quick tips

  • Gardenal 20mg/5ml Syrup helps in treatment and prevention of seizures.
  • It may be habit-forming with long-term use.
  • Talk with your doctor if it stops working well. Do not take more than prescribed.
  • It may make you very sleepy. Don't drive or do anything that requires mental focus until you know how it affects you.
  • Inform your doctor if you notice pain in your joints or if you have a history of bone disease.
  • Get regular blood tests done to monitor the amount of medication in your body.
  • Talk to your doctor immediately if you notice skin rash accompanied with fever.
  • Do not stop taking the medication suddenly without talking to your doctor.

Fact Box

Chemical Class
Barbituric Acid Derivative
Habit Forming
Yes
Therapeutic Class
NEURO CNS
Action Class
Barbiturate

Interaction with drugs

Taking Gardenal with any of the following medicines can modify the effect of either of them and cause some undesirable side effects
Brand(s): Fosapine, Aprepit, Aprepep
Life-threatening
Brand(s): Norpace, Regubeat
Life-threatening
Brand(s): Nimpod, Caldip, Nimocard
Life-threatening
Brand(s): Voristil
Life-threatening

Patient concerns

arrow
Now taking Garoin (50mg) tablet at night as per prescription. Now the tablet was banned. Is there any alternative tablet?
Dr. Vikas Sharma
Neurology
gardenal 30 mg tds
i have a epilepst pt 16 years. i take gardenal 30 threee times. 18 month we have detached from gardenal. but recently i have senseless.
Dr. Vikas Sharma
Neurology
Start tab levera 500 mg bd
arrow

User feedback


FAQs

Q. What is Gardenal 20mg/5ml Syrup used for?

Gardenal 20mg/5ml Syrup is prescribed to control seizures or fits. Gardenal 20mg/5ml Syrup belongs to barbiturate group of medicines. In exceptional circumstances, it is also used to treat seizures that sometimes accompany a high fever in children.

Q. What if I forget to take Gardenal 20mg/5ml Syrup?

If you forget to take a dose, take it as soon as you remember. However, if it is time for the next dose, skip the forgotten dose and take the next dose. Do not double the dose to make up for the forgotten dose.

Q. Can Gardenal 20mg/5ml Syrup cause addiction?

Yes, Gardenal 20mg/5ml Syrup may cause addiction in patients with a history of alcoholism and drug abuse if they take it for a prolonged time. Therefore, Gardenal 20mg/5ml Syrup should be avoided in such patients.

Q. What are the long-term side effects of Gardenal 20mg/5ml Syrup?

Long-term use of phenobarbital can lead to changes in the soft tissues of the body. Symptoms include pain in the joints or thickening in areas such as the palm or the bottom of the foot. If you notice any changes of this kind, tell the doctor.

Q. Can I stop taking Gardenal 20mg/5ml Syrup once my seizures get controlled?

No, you should not stop taking Gardenal 20mg/5ml Syrup without consulting your doctor. Sudden withdrawal can cause sleeplessness, anxiety, tremor, dizziness, feeling sick, fits and delirium. The dose of Gardenal 20mg/5ml Syrup should be reduced gradually.

Q. What will happen if I accidentally take more than the recommended dose of Gardenal 20mg/5ml Syrup?

Swallowing more than the recommended doses may cause drowsiness, speech problems, jerky movements, jerky eye movements, loss of inhibition, reduced reflex response, low body temperature, low blood pressure and breathing problems. Contact your nearest hospital emergency services or your doctor immediately.

Q. What are the effects of Gardenal 20mg/5ml Syrup in children?

Gardenal 20mg/5ml Syrup is useful in treating many kinds of seizures in children. It is often considered as the first choice to treat certain kinds of seizures in newborns. The child taking Gardenal 20mg/5ml Syrup treatment may develop problems with behavior and learning. Side effects are much more likely to be troublesome if high doses are given or if too high a dose is given at the beginning of the treatment. It may be necessary to increase the dose very slowly over several months.

Q. Can I take folic acid with Gardenal 20mg/5ml Syrup?

Gardenal 20mg/5ml Syrup causes folic acid deficiency which is responsible for certain types of anemia (megaloblastic anemia) in some patients. But if you take folic acid, then it may decrease the levels of Gardenal 20mg/5ml Syrup in your body. This may lead to seizures. Therefore, folic acid should be avoided.

Q. For how long do I need to take Gardenal 20mg/5ml Syrup?

You should take Gardenal 20mg/5ml Syrup for the duration advised by your doctor. This drug has a habit-forming effect, therefore, its long-term use is not recommended.

Q. Are there any tests available which check the levels of Gardenal 20mg/5ml Syrup in the blood?

Yes, laboratory tests are available. If you feel excessively sleepy and experience tremor or balance issues or double vision, inform your doctor and get the levels checked.

Q. Can Gardenal 20mg/5ml Syrup cause withdrawal symptoms?

Yes, suddenly stopping Gardenal 20mg/5ml Syrup can cause withdrawal symptoms which include sleeplessness, anxiety, tremor, dizziness, nausea, fits, and delirium.

Want to share the information?

Disclaimer:

Tata 1mg's sole intention is to ensure that its consumers get information that is expert-reviewed, accurate and trustworthy. However, the information contained herein should NOT be used as a substitute for the advice of a qualified physician. The information provided here is for informational purposes only. This may not cover everything about particular health conditions, lab tests, medicines, all possible side effects, drug interactions, warnings, alerts, etc. Please consult your doctor and discuss all your queries related to any disease or medicine. We intend to support, not replace, the doctor-patient relationship.

References

  1. McNamara JO. Pharmacotherapy of the Epilepsies. In: Brunton LL, Chabner BA, Knollmann BC, editors. Goodman & Gilman’s: The Pharmacological Basis of Therapeutics. 12th ed. New York, New York: McGraw-Hill Medical; 2011. pp. 593-94.
  2. Porters RJ, Meldrum BS. Antiseizure Drugs. In: Katzung BG, Masters SB, Trevor AJ, editors. Basic and Clinical Pharmacology. 11th ed. New Delhi, India: Tata McGraw Hill Education Private Limited; 2009. p. 407.
  3. Briggs GG, Freeman RK, editors. A Reference Guide to Fetal and Neonatal Risk: Drugs in Pregnancy and Lactation. 10th ed. Philadelphia, PA: Wolters Kluwer Health; 2015. pp. 1101-104.
  4. Drugs and Lactation Database (LactMed) [Internet]. Bethesda (MD): National Library of Medicine (US); 2006. Phenobarbital. [Updated 2018 Oct 31]. [Accessed 20 Feb. 2020] (online) Available from:External Link
  5. Phenobarbitone. Huddersfield, West Yorks: Thornton & Ross Ltd.; 1982 [revised 27 Jan. 2016]. [Accessed 22 Mar. 2019] (online) Available from:External Link

Marketer details

Name: Abbott
Address: 16th Floor, Godrej BKC, Plot – C, “G” Block, Bandra-Kurla Complex, Bandra (East), Mumbai – 400 051, India
Country of origin: India

NOT FOR SALE
We do not facilitate sale of this product at present

INDIA’S LARGEST HEALTHCARE PLATFORM

260m+
Visitors
31m+
Orders Delivered
1800+
Cities
Get the link to download App
Reliable

All products displayed on Tata 1mg are procured from verified and licensed pharmacies. All labs listed on the platform are accredited

Secure

Tata 1mg uses Secure Sockets Layer (SSL) 128-bit encryption and is Payment Card Industry Data Security Standard (PCI DSS) compliant

Affordable

Find affordable medicine substitutes, save up to 50% on health products, up to 80% off on lab tests and free doctor consultations.

LegitScript approved
India's only LegitScript and ISO/ IEC 27001 certified online healthcare platform

Know more about Tata 1mgdownArrow

Access medical and health information

Tata 1mg provides you with medical information which is curated, written and verified by experts, accurate and trustworthy. Our experts create high-quality content about medicines, diseases, lab investigations, Over-The-Counter (OTC) health products, Ayurvedic herbs/ingredients, and alternative remedies.

Order medicines online

Get free medicine home delivery in over 1800 cities across India. You can also order Ayurvedic, Homeopathic and other Over-The-Counter (OTC) health products. Your safety is our top priority. All products displayed on Tata 1mg are procured from verified and licensed pharmacies.

Book lab tests

Book any lab tests and preventive health packages from certified labs and get tested from the comfort of your home. Enjoy free home sample collection, view reports online and consult a doctor online for free.

Consult a doctor online

Got a health query? Consult doctors online from the comfort of your home for free. Chat privately with our registered medical specialists to connect directly with verified doctors. Your privacy is guaranteed.