Transient "sicca syndrome" during phenobarbital treatment

Even after the introduction of new antiepileptic drugs, phenobarbital continues to be largely used in the treatment of epilepsy. We report the case of a 59-year-old woman with focal seizures with secondary generalization, treated with phenobarbital with normal serum levels. After thirty days she showed Sjogren-like symptoms, which resolved after the replaced of phenobarbital with oxcarbazepine. Although many antiepileptic drugs are known to induce autoimmune disorders, a "Sicca Syndrome" has never been reported as an adverse effect of phenobarbital. We think this case report leads to take into consideration the possibility of a drug-induced disorder whenever patients treated with barbiturates develop symptoms suggestive of Sjogren's Syndrome.