I am just wondering if phenobarbital is still prescribed and what is
it indicated for? I have never taken this med but I assume it is a very
different drug from Valium and Xanax. Is phenobarbital just for sleeping
as opposed to Valium, Xanax etc. which is used for anxiety, muscle
spasms ....  I am a chronic pain person. My pain is from 2 failed back
surgeries and I still have 6 more herniated discs with 3 impinging on my
spinal cord. At times I go 2 or 3 nights with no sleep because of severe
pain and then crash from exhaustion despite getting treatment for my
pain. I have never taken a long term sleeping med and for some reason
fear them. What are the phenobarbitals for? Sleeping only? Any other
uses and how often do docs prescribed them?. I know the Val. and Xan. do
very little if anything for my sleep which is important .  Thanks for
any info.