National Certified Addiction Counselor, Level I (NCAC I) Practice Exam

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What time frame does Phenobarbital typically act within?

1-3 hours
12-24 hours
24-48 hours
1 week

The correct answer is: 12-24 hours

Phenobarbital is a barbiturate that is commonly used as an anticonvulsant and a sedative. Its onset of action is generally within 1 to 3 hours when administered orally. However, the time frame referenced in the context of its therapeutic effects and steady-state levels in the blood after long-term use aligns more closely with a duration that can range between 12 to 24 hours. This duration reflects the time it takes for Phenobarbital to exert its peak effects and maintain stable therapeutically relevant concentrations in the body. In practice, while the immediate effects of Phenobarbital may appear within a few hours, its longer-term pharmacodynamics and steady-state equilibrium following repeated dosing is better characterized within that 12 to 24-hour time frame, leading to its categorization as a longer-acting barbiturate compared to others in its class.