Tuesday, 9 October 2012

Xpect-HC


Generic Name: guaifenesin and hydrocodone (gwye FEN e sin and HYE droe KOE done)

Brand Names: A-Cof DH, Canges-XP, Codiclear DH, Condasin, Cotuss V, Execlear, Extendryl HC, Hycotuss Expectorant, Hydrocod-GF, Kwelcof, Monte-G HC, Narcof, Pancof XP, Pneumotussin 2.5, Relasin-HCX, Touro HC, Tussicle, Tusso-DF, Vi-Q-Tuss, Vitussin Expectorant, Xpect-HC, Z-Cof HCX


What is Xpect-HC (guaifenesin and hydrocodone)?

Guaifenesin is an expectorant. It helps loosen congestion in your chest and throat, making it easier to cough out through your mouth.


Hydrocodone is a narcotic cough suppressant.


Guaifenesin and hydrocodone is used to treat cough and reduce chest congestion caused by the common cold, flu, or allergies.


Guaifenesin and hydrocodone may also be used for purposes not listed in this medication guide.


What is the most important information I should know about Xpect-HC (guaifenesin and hydrocodone)?


This medication may impair your thinking or reactions. Be careful if you drive or do anything that requires you to be alert. Drinking alcohol can increase certain side effects of guaifenesin and hydrocodone. Tell your doctor if you regularly use other medicines that make you sleepy (such as other cold or allergy medicine, narcotic pain medicine, sleeping pills, muscle relaxers, and medicine for seizures, depression, or anxiety). They can add to sleepiness caused by guaifenesin and hydrocodone. Hydrocodone may be habit-forming and should be used only by the person it was prescribed for. Keep the medication in a secure place where others cannot get to it.

What should I discuss with my healthcare provider before taking Xpect-HC (guaifenesin and hydrocodone)?


Hydrocodone may be habit forming and should be used only by the person it was prescribed for. Never share this medication with another person, especially someone with a history of drug abuse or addiction. Keep the medication in a place where others cannot get to it. Do not use this medicine if you are allergic to hydrocodone or guaifenesin.

To make sure you can safely take guaifenesin and hydrocodone, tell your doctor if you have any of these other conditions:



  • liver or kidney disease;




  • asthma;




  • urination problems;




  • an enlarged prostate;




  • a thyroid disorder;




  • seizures or epilepsy;




  • gallbladder disease;




  • a head injury; or




  • Addison's disease.




FDA pregnancy category C. It is not known whether this medication will harm an unborn baby. Tell your doctor if you are pregnant or plan to become pregnant. Guaifenesin and hydrocodone can pass into breast milk and may harm a nursing baby. Do not use this medication without telling your doctor if you are breast-feeding a baby.

How should I take Xpect-HC (guaifenesin and hydrocodone)?


Take exactly as prescribed by your doctor. Do not take in larger or smaller amounts or for longer than recommended. Follow the directions on your prescription label.


Guaifenesin and hydrocodone can be taken with or without food.


Measure liquid medicine with a special dose-measuring spoon or cup, not a regular table spoon. If you do not have a dose-measuring device, ask your pharmacist for one.


Call your doctor if your symptoms do not improve, or if they get worse. Store at room temperature away from moisture and heat.

Keep track of the amount of medicine used from each new bottle. Guaifenesin and hydrocodone is a drug of abuse and you should be aware if anyone is using your medicine improperly or without a prescription.


What happens if I miss a dose?


Take the missed dose as soon as you remember. Skip the missed dose if it is almost time for your next scheduled dose. Do not take extra medicine to make up the missed dose.


What happens if I overdose?


Seek emergency medical attention or call the Poison Help line at 1-800-222-1222.

Overdose symptoms may include extreme drowsiness, sweating, pinpoint pupils, nausea, vomiting, dry mouth, confusion, cold and clammy skin, muscle weakness, fainting, weak pulse, slow heart rate, seizure (convulsions), weak or shallow breathing, or breathing that stops.


What should I avoid while taking Xpect-HC (guaifenesin and hydrocodone)?


This medication may impair your thinking or reactions. Be careful if you drive or do anything that requires you to be alert. Drinking alcohol can increase certain side effects of guaifenesin and hydrocodone.

Ask a doctor or pharmacist before using any other cough, cold, allergy, pain, or sleep medicine. Guaifenesin is contained in many combination medicines. Taking certain products together can cause you to get too much guaifenesin. Check the label to see if a medicine contains guaifenesin.


Xpect-HC (guaifenesin and hydrocodone) side effects


Get emergency medical help if you have any of these signs of an allergic reaction: hives; difficulty breathing; swelling of your face, lips, tongue, or throat. Stop using this medication and call your doctor at once if you have a serious side effect such as:

  • slow heart rate, weak or shallow breathing;




  • feeling like you might pass out;




  • confusion, fear, unusual thoughts or behavior;




  • seizure (convulsions); or




  • urinating less than usual or not at all.



Less serious side effects may include:



  • dizziness, drowsiness;




  • nausea, vomiting, upset stomach;




  • blurred vision;




  • constipation;




  • dry mouth; or




  • sweating.



This is not a complete list of side effects and others may occur. Call your doctor for medical advice about side effects. You may report side effects to FDA at 1-800-FDA-1088.


What other drugs will affect Xpect-HC (guaifenesin and hydrocodone)?


Tell your doctor if you regularly use other medicines that make you sleepy (such as other cold or allergy medicine, narcotic pain medicine, sleeping pills, muscle relaxers, and medicine for seizures, depression, or anxiety). They can add to sleepiness caused by guaifenesin and hydrocodone.

Tell your doctor about all other medicines you use, especially:



  • antidepressants such as amitriptyline (Elavil, Vanatrip, Limbitrol), doxepin (Sinequan), nortriptyline (Pamelor), and others;




  • atropine (Donnatal, and others), benztropine (Cogentin), dimenhydrinate (Dramamine), glycopyrrolate (Robinul), mepenzolate (Cantil), methscopolamine (Pamine), or scopolamine (Transderm-Scop);




  • bladder or urinary medications such as darifenacin (Enablex), flavoxate (Urispas), oxybutynin (Ditropan, Oxytrol), tolterodine (Detrol), or solifenacin (Vesicare);




  • a bronchodilator such as ipratropium (Atrovent) or tiotropium (Spiriva); or




  • irritable bowel medications such as dicyclomine (Bentyl), hyoscyamine (Anaspaz, Cystospaz, Levsin, and others), or propantheline (Pro-Banthine).



This list is not complete and other drugs may interact with guaifenesin and hydrocodone. Tell your doctor about all medications you use. This includes prescription, over-the-counter, vitamin, and herbal products. Do not start a new medication without telling your doctor.



More Xpect-HC resources


  • Xpect-HC Side Effects (in more detail)
  • Xpect-HC Use in Pregnancy & Breastfeeding
  • Xpect-HC Drug Interactions
  • Xpect-HC Support Group
  • 0 Reviews for Xpect-HC - Add your own review/rating


  • CodiCLEAR DH Liquid MedFacts Consumer Leaflet (Wolters Kluwer)

  • Entuss Liquid MedFacts Consumer Leaflet (Wolters Kluwer)

  • Tusso-HC Sustained-Release Tablets MedFacts Consumer Leaflet (Wolters Kluwer)



Compare Xpect-HC with other medications


  • Cough


Where can I get more information?


  • Your pharmacist can provide more information about guaifenesin and hydrocodone.

See also: Xpect-HC side effects (in more detail)


Thursday, 4 October 2012

Probalan


Generic Name: probenecid (Oral route)

proe-BEN-e-sid

Commonly used brand name(s)

In the U.S.


  • Benemid

  • Probalan

Available Dosage Forms:


  • Tablet

Therapeutic Class: Antigout


Uses For Probalan


Probenecid is used in the treatment of chronic gout or gouty arthritis. These conditions are caused by too much uric acid in the blood. The medicine works by removing the extra uric acid from the body. Probenecid does not cure gout, but after you have been taking it for a few months it will help prevent gout attacks. This medicine will help prevent gout attacks only as long as you continue to take it.


Probenecid is also used to prevent or treat other medical problems that may occur if too much uric acid is present in the body.


Probenecid is sometimes used with certain kinds of antibiotics to make them more effective in the treatment of infections.


Probenecid is available only with your doctor's prescription.


Before Using Probalan


In deciding to use a medicine, the risks of taking the medicine must be weighed against the good it will do. This is a decision you and your doctor will make. For this medicine, the following should be considered:


Allergies


Tell your doctor if you have ever had any unusual or allergic reaction to this medicine or any other medicines. Also tell your health care professional if you have any other types of allergies, such as to foods, dyes, preservatives, or animals. For non-prescription products, read the label or package ingredients carefully.


Pediatric


Probenecid has been tested in children 2 to 14 years of age for use together with antibiotics. It has not been shown to cause different side effects or problems than it does in adults. Studies on the effects of probenecid in patients with gout have been done only in adults. Gout is very rare in children.


Geriatric


Many medicines have not been studied specifically in older people. Therefore, it may not be known whether they work exactly the same way they do in younger adults. There is no specific information comparing use of probenecid in the elderly with use in other age groups.


Pregnancy








Pregnancy CategoryExplanation
All TrimestersBAnimal studies have revealed no evidence of harm to the fetus, however, there are no adequate studies in pregnant women OR animal studies have shown an adverse effect, but adequate studies in pregnant women have failed to demonstrate a risk to the fetus.

Breast Feeding


There are no adequate studies in women for determining infant risk when using this medication during breastfeeding. Weigh the potential benefits against the potential risks before taking this medication while breastfeeding.


Interactions with Medicines


Although certain medicines should not be used together at all, in other cases two different medicines may be used together even if an interaction might occur. In these cases, your doctor may want to change the dose, or other precautions may be necessary. When you are taking this medicine, it is especially important that your healthcare professional know if you are taking any of the medicines listed below. The following interactions have been selected on the basis of their potential significance and are not necessarily all-inclusive.


Using this medicine with any of the following medicines is not recommended. Your doctor may decide not to treat you with this medication or change some of the other medicines you take.


  • Ketorolac

Using this medicine with any of the following medicines is usually not recommended, but may be required in some cases. If both medicines are prescribed together, your doctor may change the dose or how often you use one or both of the medicines.


  • Citalopram

  • Doripenem

  • Methotrexate

  • Zalcitabine

Using this medicine with any of the following medicines may cause an increased risk of certain side effects, but using both drugs may be the best treatment for you. If both medicines are prescribed together, your doctor may change the dose or how often you use one or both of the medicines.


  • Amoxicillin

  • Aspirin

  • Bismuth Subsalicylate

  • Cefditoren Pivoxil

  • Cefotaxime

  • Cefpodoxime Proxetil

  • Cefprozil

  • Choline Magnesium Trisalicylate

  • Ciprofloxacin

  • Enprofylline

  • Ertapenem

  • Gatifloxacin

  • Lorazepam

  • Magnesium Salicylate

  • Meropenem

  • Norfloxacin

  • Phenprocoumon

  • Piretanide

  • Pralatrexate

  • Sodium Salicylate

  • Sodium Thiosalicylate

  • Zidovudine

  • Zomepirac

Interactions with Food/Tobacco/Alcohol


Certain medicines should not be used at or around the time of eating food or eating certain types of food since interactions may occur. Using alcohol or tobacco with certain medicines may also cause interactions to occur. Discuss with your healthcare professional the use of your medicine with food, alcohol, or tobacco.


Other Medical Problems


The presence of other medical problems may affect the use of this medicine. Make sure you tell your doctor if you have any other medical problems, especially:


  • Blood disease or

  • Cancer being treated by antineoplastics (cancer medicine) or radiation (x-rays) or

  • Kidney disease or stones (or history of) or

  • Stomach ulcer (history of)—The chance of side effects may be increased

Proper Use of probenecid

This section provides information on the proper use of a number of products that contain probenecid. It may not be specific to Probalan. Please read with care.


If probenecid upsets your stomach, it may be taken with food. If this does not work, an antacid may be taken. If stomach upset (nausea, vomiting, or loss of appetite) continues, check with your doctor.


For patients taking probenecid for gout:


  • After you begin to take probenecid, gout attacks may continue to occur for a while. However, if you take this medicine regularly as directed by your doctor, the attacks will gradually become less frequent and less painful than before. After you have been taking probenecid for several months, they may stop completely.

  • This medicine will help prevent gout attacks but it will not relieve an attack that has already started. Even if you take another medicine for gout attacks, continue to take this medicine also. If you have any questions about this, check with your doctor.

For patients taking probenecid for gout or to help remove uric acid from the body:


  • When you first begin taking probenecid, the amount of uric acid in the kidneys is greatly increased. This may cause kidney stones or other kidney problems in some people. To help prevent this, your doctor may want you to drink at least 10 to 12 full glasses (8 ounces each) of fluids each day, or to take another medicine to make your urine less acid. It is important that you follow your doctor's instructions very carefully.

Dosing


The dose of this medicine will be different for different patients. Follow your doctor's orders or the directions on the label. The following information includes only the average doses of this medicine. If your dose is different, do not change it unless your doctor tells you to do so.


The amount of medicine that you take depends on the strength of the medicine. Also, the number of doses you take each day, the time allowed between doses, and the length of time you take the medicine depend on the medical problem for which you are using the medicine.


  • For treating gout or removing uric acid from the body:
    • Adults: 250 mg (one-half of a 500-mg tablet) two times a day for about one week, then 500 mg (one tablet) two times a day for a few weeks. After this, the dose will depend on the amount of uric acid in your blood or urine. Most people need 2, 3, or 4 tablets a day, but some people may need higher doses.

    • Children: It is not likely that probenecid will be needed to treat gout or to remove uric acid from the body in children. If a child needs this medicine, however, the dose would have to be determined by the doctor.


  • For helping antibiotics work better:
    • Adults: The amount of probenecid will depend on the condition being treated. Sometimes, only one dose of 2 tablets is needed. Other times, the dose will be 1 tablet four times a day.

    • Children: The dose will have to be determined by the doctor. It depends on the child's weight, as well as on the condition being treated. Older children and teenagers may need the same amount as adults.


Missed Dose


If you miss a dose of this medicine, take it as soon as possible. However, if it is almost time for your next dose, skip the missed dose and go back to your regular dosing schedule. Do not double doses.


Storage


Store the medicine in a closed container at room temperature, away from heat, moisture, and direct light. Keep from freezing.


Keep out of the reach of children.


Do not keep outdated medicine or medicine no longer needed.


Precautions While Using Probalan


If you will be taking probenecid for more than a few weeks, your doctor should check your progress at regular visits.


Before you have any medical tests, tell the person in charge that you are taking this medicine. The results of some tests may be affected by probenecid.


For diabetic patients:


  • Probenecid may cause false test results with copper sulfate urine sugar tests (Clinitest®), but not with glucose enzymatic urine sugar tests (Clinistix®). If you have any questions about this, check with your health care professional.

For patients taking probenecid for gout or to help remove uric acid from the body:


  • Taking aspirin or other salicylates may lessen the effects of probenecid. This will depend on the dose of aspirin or other salicylate that you take, and on how often you take it. Also, drinking too much alcohol may increase the amount of uric acid in the blood and lessen the effects of this medicine. Therefore, do not take aspirin or other salicylates or drink alcoholic beverages while taking this medicine, unless you have first checked with your doctor.

Probalan Side Effects


Along with its needed effects, a medicine may cause some unwanted effects. Although not all of these side effects may occur, if they do occur they may need medical attention.


Check with your doctor immediately if any of the following side effects occur:


Rare
  • Fast or irregular breathing

  • puffiness or swellings of the eyelids or around the eyes

  • shortness of breath, troubled breathing, tightness in chest, or wheezing

  • changes in the skin color of the face occurring together with any of the other side effects listed here

  • or skin rash, hives, or itching occurring together with any of the other side effects listed here

Check with your doctor as soon as possible if any of the following side effects occur:


Less common
  • Bloody urine

  • difficult or painful urination

  • lower back or side pain (especially if severe or sharp)

  • skin rash, hives, or itching (occurring without other signs of an allergic reaction)

Rare
  • Cloudy urine

  • cough or hoarseness

  • fast or irregular breathing

  • fever

  • pain in back and/or ribs

  • sores, ulcers, or white spots on lips or in mouth

  • sore throat and fever with or without chills

  • sudden decrease in the amount of urine

  • swelling of face, fingers, feet, and/or lower legs

  • swollen and/or painful glands

  • unusual bleeding or bruising

  • unusual tiredness or weakness

  • yellow eyes or skin

  • weight gain

Some side effects may occur that usually do not need medical attention. These side effects may go away during treatment as your body adjusts to the medicine. Also, your health care professional may be able to tell you about ways to prevent or reduce some of these side effects. Check with your health care professional if any of the following side effects continue or are bothersome or if you have any questions about them:


More common
  • Headache

  • joint pain, redness, or swelling

  • loss of appetite

  • nausea or vomiting (mild)

Less common
  • Dizziness

  • flushing or redness of face (occurring without any signs of an allergic reaction)

  • frequent urge to urinate

  • sore gums

Other side effects not listed may also occur in some patients. If you notice any other effects, check with your healthcare professional.


Call your doctor for medical advice about side effects. You may report side effects to the FDA at 1-800-FDA-1088.

See also: Probalan side effects (in more detail)



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More Probalan resources


  • Probalan Side Effects (in more detail)
  • Probalan Use in Pregnancy & Breastfeeding
  • Drug Images
  • Probalan Drug Interactions
  • Probalan Support Group
  • 1 Review for Probalan - Add your own review/rating


Compare Probalan with other medications


  • Adjunct to Antibiotic Therapy
  • Gout