Undesirable drug reactions during simultaneous administration of high dosage phenobarbital and beta lactam antibiotics, mainly Cefotaxim, are reported in 24 of 49 children admitted to intensive care at the Klinikum der J W Goethe Universitat, Frankfort, Germany. The reactions were mainly exanthematous skin rashes which in some cases progressed to Stevens-Johnson syndrome. [1]
COMMENT. The incidence of skin reaction with phenobarbital is relatively rare compared to the anticonvulsants phenytoin and carbamazepine but the risk of serious skin reactions may be increased by the simultaneous administration of the antibiotic Cefotaxim.