Wed 18 Nov 2009
MYSOLINE (Primidone) POSSIBLE SIDE EFFECTS
Effective medicine may cause “side effects” in some people. New symptoms may be caused by the medicine, the original disorder, or a new illness that may develop. Most people experience few or no side effects, and those that do happen tend to disappear in time after you stop using the medicine or when your body adjusts to it.
Some patients have reported that Mysoline seemed to cause “hangover” symptoms, pain such as headache, or even a strange feeling of excitement. Other symptoms include drowsiness, dizziness, nausea, vomiting, an unsteady gait, double vision and jumpy eyes. Less common symptoms are skin rash and changes in your mood. There are also some changes that may occur in your blood which do not produce symptoms early. This is why blood counts are necessary when you take this or most other drugs for a long time.
If you should develop any of these symptoms to an uncomfortable degree or think that the medicine is bothering you in some other way, stop taking it temporarily and notify your doctor. He may decide to change your dosage schedule or discontinue the medicine.
YOUR ACTIVITIES OF DAILY LIVING
Until you experience how this medicine affects you, don’t drive a car or other , vehicle, don’t work around dangerous machinery, don’t climb ladders, and don’t work in high places. Especially follow these restrictions if you also drink any beverage with alcohol, or take any other medicine that might affect your alertness or reflexes, such as tranquilizers, sedatives, anti-histamines, medicine for pain, and others.
STORAGE
Keep this medicine in a tightly closed container in a dry, cool place away from heat or direct sunlight and out of reach of children. Don’t use the bathroom cabinet because humidity is high there. If you store medicine in the refrigerator, do not let it freeze. Don’t save left-over medicine to “use later.” Discard it on the expiration date shown on the container, but do so in a way that will protect children or pets—flush down the toilet, for example.
REFILLS
All refills must be ordered by your doctor, either in the ‘first prescription or later. Only the pharmacy that originally filled this prescription can refill it. If you go elsewhere, you must have a new prescription. Call the pharmacist and order your refill by number; it can be ready when you go to pick it up. Use one pharmacy for the whole family if you can. That way a complete record of all your drugs can be kept and the pharmacist can communicate effectively with your doctor.
OVERDOSAGE: WHAT TO DO
CALL THE DOCTOR OR
FOR HELP OR AN AMBULANCE. Then
give FIRST AID! The patient is unconscious or very drowsy: (a.)
Not breathing: Try mouth-to-mouth breathing.
(b) No heart beat: Use cardiac massage if you know
how; hit the breast-bone hard with your fist.
(c) Don’t try to make him vomit, (d) If you can’t get
help, take the patient to the nearest qualified
Emergency facility.
The patient is alert: (a) Give milk (undiluted evaporated milk is best), (b) Try to induce vomiting with Syrup of Ipecac* if available; otherwise push your finger far back in his throat. Try to save the vomit for tests. Next, give Activated Charcoal.” (c) If no professional help can be found, don’t wait. Take the patient to the nearest Emergency facility.
ALWAYS BRING ANY REMAINING MEDICINE AND EMPTY BOTTLES!
‘Syrup of Ipecac and Activated Charcoal with instructions should be in every household (or treatment of medication accidents. Ask your doctor for them
Please post this information sheet in a conspicuous place close to where you store the medicine so you will see it frequently and can refer to it easily. To avoid future confusion with other medicines, discard this sheet when you finish the course of treatment requiring the use of this drug.