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NERVOUS SYSTEM › PSYCHOLEPTICS › HYPNOTICS AND SEDATIVES › Other hypnotics and sedatives
bromides
N05CM11
Forms & Strengths
- Oral solution: Potassium bromide 10% to 20%
- Veterinary formulations (commonly used in veterinary medicine, historical human use)
Adult Dosing
- Historical use for epilepsy: 1 to 3 g daily in divided doses
- Rarely used in modern human clinical practice due to narrow therapeutic index and toxicity
Pediatric Dosing
- Historical use: 30 to 60 mg/kg/day divided, rarely used in modern clinical practice
- Dosing requires careful therapeutic drug monitoring due to long half-life
Indications
- Historical: Treatment of refractory epilepsy and generalized seizure disorders
- Veterinary medicine: Adjunctive anticonvulsant for dogs with idiopathic epilepsy
Mechanism of Action
- Enhances inhibitory neurotransmission by substituting for chloride ions
- Hyperpolarizes neuronal membranes through influx via chloride channels, raising seizure threshold
Contraindications
- Hypersensitivity to bromides
- Severe renal impairment
- Severe dehydration or electrolyte imbalance
Adverse Reactions
- Bromism (chronic toxicity): neurological symptoms (ataxia, confusion, lethargy, psychosis)
- Dermatological: acneiform eruptions, toxicoderma
- Gastrointestinal: nausea, vomiting, anorexia
- Central nervous system depression
Drug Interactions
- Sodium chloride intake alters bromide elimination (increased dietary salt increases bromide excretion)
- Additive central nervous system depression with alcohol, sedatives, and hypnotics
- Diuretics that deplete chloride can lead to toxic accumulation of bromides
Curated Content: Needs Vetting Before Put to Clinical Use