Alimemazine Tartrate 10mg Film Coated Tablets

Read all of this leaflet carefully before you start taking this medicine

• Keep this leaflet. You may need to read it again
• If you have any further questions, ask your doctor or pharmacist
• This medicine has been prescribed for you. Do not pass it on to others. It may harm them, even if their symptoms are the same as yours
• If any of the side effects gets serious, or if you notice any side effects not listed in this leaflet, please tell your doctor or pharmacist

In this leaflet:

• 1. What alimemazine tablets are and what they are used for
• 2. Before you take alimemazine tablets
• 3. How to take alimemazine tablets
• 4. Possible side effects
• 5. How to store alimemazine tablets
• 6. Further information

What alimemazine tablets are used for

• To treat itching (pruritus) or an itchy, lumpy rash (urticaria)
• As a sedative for children aged between 2 and 7 years. This is a medicine given to reduce awareness or make the child feel relaxed and at ease before an operation

Do not take this medicine and tell your doctor if:

• You are allergic (hypersensitive) to:
  • alimemazine tartrate or any of the other ingredients of this medicine (listed in Section 6 below)
  • any other similar medicines (phenothiazines) such as chlorpromazine
  The signs of an allergic reaction include: a rash, swallowing or breathing problems, swelling of your lips, face, throat or tongue
• You have liver or kidney problems
• You have epilepsy
• You have Parkinson’s disease
• You have thyroid problems (hypothyroidism)
• You have a tumour on the adrenal gland (called phaeochromocytoma)
• You have myasthenia gravis (a form of muscle weakness)
• You have an enlarged prostate gland
• You have increased pressure in the eye (called narrow angle glaucoma)

Do not take this medicine if any of the above applies to you.

If you are not sure, talk to your doctor or pharmacist before taking alimemazine tablets.

Take special care with alimemazine tablets

Check with your doctor or pharmacist before taking your medicine if:

• You have heart problems
• You are elderly and are dehydrated or have been told you have a low blood volume
• You are elderly and have had constipation for some time
• You are an elderly male and have problems when passing water (urine)
• You are elderly and it is very hot or cold. Your body may find it harder to control its temperature when taking this medicine

If you are not sure if any of the above apply to you, talk to your doctor or pharmacist before taking alimemazine tablets.

Taking other medicines

Please tell your doctor or pharmacist if you are taking or have recently taken any other medicines. This includes medicines you can buy without prescription, including herbal medicines. This is because alimemazine tablets can affect the way some medicines work.

Also some medicines can affect the way alimemazine tablets work.

In particular, tell your doctor or pharmacist if you are taking any of the following:

• Medicines to help you sleep or lower your anxiety
• Lithium – used to treat some types of mental illness
• Amfetamine – used for Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD)
• Phenobarbital – used for epilepsy
• Adrenaline - used for life threatening allergic reactions
• Medicines for Parkinson’s disease such as levodopa
• Medicines for depression
• Medicines for severe pain (such as codeine or morphine)
• Medicines for diabetes. Your doctor may need to change the dose of your medicine
• Medicines for high blood pressure such as doxazosin, terazosin, guanethidine or clonidine
• Medicines for indigestion and heartburn (antacids)
• Anticholinergic medicines - includes some medicines used for irritable bowel syndrome, asthma or incontinence

Taking alimemazine tablets with food and drink

Do not drink alcohol or take any medicines containing alcohol while you are taking alimemazine tablets. This is because alcohol can increase the chances of you getting side effects. It can also cause serious breathing difficulties.

Pregnancy and breast-feeding

Talk to your doctor before taking this medicine if you are pregnant, might become pregnant, or think you may be pregnant.

You should not take alimemazine tablets if you are breast-feeding. This is because small amounts may pass into mothers’ milk. This can be harmful to your baby.

If you are breast-feeding or planning to breast-feed, talk to your doctor or pharmacist before taking any medicine.

Driving and using machines

You may feel drowsy or sleepy while taking this medicine. If this happens, do not drive or use any tools or machines.

Important information about some of the ingredients of alimemazine tablets

This medicine contains:

• Lactose. This medicine contains lactose, a type of sugar. If you have been told by your doctor that you can not tolerate some sugars, talk to your doctor before taking alimemazine tablets.

Taking this medicine

• Take this medicine by mouth
• Do not touch the tablets for any longer than is necessary. This can cause skin redness, swelling and itching (contact skin sensitisation)
• If you feel the effect of your medicine is too weak or too strong, do not change the dose yourself, but ask your doctor

How much to take

The usual dose is:

For itching or an itchy, lumpy rash

Adults:

• One tablet (10mg) two or three times each day
• Your doctor may increase your dose in some cases

Elderly:

• One tablet (10mg) once or twice each day

Children over 2 years of age

• Children will normally be given alimemazine syrup. You should check with your doctor or pharmacist

As a sedative

Children aged between 2 and 7 years:

• Children will normally be given alimemazine syrup. You should check with your doctor or pharmacist

Exposure to sunlight

Alimemazine tablets can make your skin more sensitive to sunlight.

Keep out of direct sunlight while taking this medicine.

If you take more alimemazine tablets than you should

If you take more alimemazine tablets than you should, tell a doctor or go to a hospital casualty department straight away. Take the medicine pack with you. This is so the doctor knows what you have taken. Also do this if a child under 2 years of age swallows some of this medicine.

The following effects may happen: feeling drowsy, loss of consciousness, increased or rapid heartbeat, changes in heart beat, uneven heat beats and feeling very cold. You may also feel dizzy, light-headed or faint (due to low blood pressure) and you may notice that you cannot control your movements (for example of the eyes, neck, arms and legs).

If you forget to take alimemazine tablets

If you forget a dose, take it as soon as you remember it.

However, if it is nearly time for the next dose, skip the missed dose. Do not take a double dose to make up for a forgotten dose

Stop taking alimemazine tablets and see a doctor or go to a hospital straight away if you notice any of the following side effects:

• An allergic reaction. The signs may include: a rash, swallowing or breathing problems, swelling of your lips, face, throat or tongue
• Liver problems that may cause the eyes or skin to go yellow (jaundice)
• High temperature, sweating, stiff muscles, fast heartbeat, fast breathing and feel confused, drowsy or agitated. These could be signs of a serious side effect called ‘neuroleptic malignant syndrome’
• Very fast, uneven or forceful heartbeat (palpitations). You may also have breathing problems such as wheezing, shortness of breath, tightness in the chest and chest pain
• Movements that you cannot control, mainly of the tongue, mouth, jaw, arms and legs
• You may get infections more easily than normal such as fever, severe chills, sore throat or mouth ulcers.
  These could be signs of a blood problem

Tell a pharmacist or doctor as soon as possible if you have any of the following side effects:

• Breathing more slowly or less deeply than normal
• Feeling restless and not being able to keep still
• Changes in skin or eye colour
• Problems with your eyesight
• Rigid or stiff muscles, trembling or shaking or difficulty moving
• Feeling dizzy, lightheaded or faint when you stand or sit up quickly (due to low blood pressure)
• Unexpected excitement or hyperactivity

Tell your doctor or pharmacist if any of the following side effects gets serious or lasts longer than a few days or if you notice any side effects not listed in this leaflet:

• Dry mouth
• Stuffy nose
• Difficulty sleeping (insomnia)
• Feeling agitated
• Being more sensitive to the sun than usual
• Unusual production of breast milk in men and women
• Breast enlargement in men
• Loss of menstrual periods
• Difficulty in getting or maintaining an erection or in ejaculating (impotence)
• Skin redness, swelling and itching (contact skin sensitisation)
• Skin rashes

What alimemazine tablets contain

• Each tablet contains 10mg of the active ingredient, alimemazine tartrate
• The other ingredients are microcrystalline cellulose, lactose monohydrate (spray dried), colloidal anhydrous silica, magnesium stearate, sodium starch glycollate, hypromellose, polyethylene glycol 300, blue opaspray M-1-4229 (purified water EP, indigo carmine, titanium dioxide, industrial methylated spirits 74

What alimemazine tablets look like and contents of the pack

The tablets are dark blue, circular, biconvex and film coated with a bevelled edge. One side of the tablet is marked V/10 and the other side is plain.

The tablets are available in blister packs of 28.

Marketing Authorisation Holder and Manufacturer

Marketing Authorisation Holder

Manufacturer