[Undesirable drug reactions in simultaneous administration of high-dosage phenobarbital and beta-lactam antibiotics].

The present paper reports on a striking increase in undesirable drug induced reactions during simultaneous administration of high-dosage phenobarbital and beta-lactam antibiotics to children in intensive care. In a 30-month study period, reactions which had to be classified as drug-induced were seen in 24 out of a total of 49 children (mainly exanthematous skin reactions, in some cases severe). The complications were mainly observed in patients receiving a combination of cefotaxime and phenobarbital. Etiologically, a toxic reaction to the combination of hepatically metabolized beta-lactam antibiotics with an enzyme-inducing drug must be considered in addition to the allergenic potential of the individual components.