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Secobarbital Side Effects

The most commonly reported side effects of secobarbital include fall, somnolence, and dyspnoea, based on 122 FDA adverse event reports from 2004 to 2025.

#1 Reported: FallAll side effects ↓Top Co-Medication: Hydromorphone-hydrochlorideDrug interactions ↓54% of Reports Are AdultDemographics ↓

Secobarbital side effects

Percentages show how often each reaction appears relative to total reports for secobarbital.

1
Fall18.9%23
2
Somnolence17.2%21
3
Dyspnoea17.2%21
4
Rash17.2%21
5
Cellulitis15.6%19
6
Headache15.6%19
7
Chest Pain15.6%19
8
Loss Of Personal Independence In Daily Activities14.8%18
9
Sleep Disorder Due To A General Medical Condition14.8%18
10
Head Injury14.8%18
11
Neurological Symptom14.8%18
12
Therapeutic Product Effect Incomplete14.8%18
13
Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease14.8%18
14
Respiratory Tract Congestion14.8%18
15
Wheezing14.8%18

These are voluntary reports and do not establish that secobarbital caused these reactions.

Report severity

77.9%Serious95 reports
30.3%Hospitalizations37 reports
26.2%Fatal32 reports

Seriousness is determined by the reporter, not by OpenClaim.

Secobarbital drug interactions

Other drugs that appear in adverse event reports alongside secobarbital. Drugs flagged as a suspected cause appear in the first column. Drugs taken at the same time but not suspected appear in the second.

Also suspected

1
Hydromorphone-hydrochloride21.3%26
2
Acetaminophen19.7%24
3
Lorazepam19.7%24
4
Alprazolam17.2%21
5
Sulfamethoxazole17.2%21
6
Naproxen16.4%20
7
Eszopiclone15.6%19
8
Fluticasone14.8%18
9
Lactulose14.8%18
10
Nitroglycerin14.8%18
11
Dimenhydrinate14.8%18
12
Vilanterol-trifenatate13.9%17
13
Budesonide13.1%16
14
Carisoprodol12.3%15
15
Aclidinium-bromide12.3%15

Taken alongside

1
Acetaminophen11.5%14
2
Oxycodone9.0%11
3
Clonazepam6.6%8
4
Diazepam5.7%7
5
Montelukast-sodium5.7%7
6
Aspirin5.7%7
7
Hydrocodone4.9%6
8
Lorazepam4.9%6
9
Hydromorphone-hydrochloride4.9%6
10
Alprazolam4.1%5
11
Propoxyphene4.1%5
12
Ipratropium-bromide4.1%5
13
Quetiapine-fumarate4.1%5
14
Fentanyl4.1%5
15
Ibuprofen4.1%5

Co-occurrence in adverse event reports does not establish a drug interaction. Patients often take multiple medications, and these lists reflect prescribing patterns rather than causal relationships. Consult a healthcare provider about potential drug interactions.

Who reports secobarbital side effects

58.2% of secobarbital adverse event reports involve female patients and 30.3% involve male patients. The largest age group is adult at 54%. These figures reflect who reports side effects, not underlying risk.

Sex

Female58.2%
Male30.3%
Unknown11.5%

Age group

< 22.4%
2–113.5%
12–171.2%
18–6454.1%
65+38.8%

What is secobarbital used for

Conditions and purposes for which patients were taking secobarbital when the adverse event was reported.

Analgesic TherapyAnxietyAssisted SuicideBack PainColon Cancer Stage IvDrug Use For Unknown IndicationEpilepsyFebrile Infection-related Epilepsy SyndromeInsomniaIntervertebral Disc DegenerationInsomniaMigrainePainProduct Use In Unapproved IndicationProduct Used For Unknown Indication

Showing 15 of 22 indications

Secobarbital brand names and reporting trend

Secobarbital is sold under the brand name Seconal Sodium.

Brand names

Seconal Sodium71

Quarterly reports (2004–2025)

20052010201520202025

An upward trend reflects increased FAERS reporting overall, not necessarily increased risk.

Taking secobarbital with another medication?

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