The effect of phenobarbital on biliary lipid metabolism and hepatic microsomal drug metabolism in patients with cholesterol cholelithiasis.

Six patients with cholesterol cholelithiasis were studied before and after 3 weeks treatment with phenobarbital, 120 mg/day. The kinetics of cholic and chenodeoxycholic acid and biliary lipid composition were not significantly affected by phenobarbital treatment although hepatic mixed-function oxidase was stimulated by the treatment as shown by increased breath output of 14CO2 after administration of (14C)aminopyrine. It is concluded that treatment with phenobarbital is unlikely to be effective therapy for patients with cholesterol cholelithiasis.