Product Details

What you need to know before you take Amantadine Solution

Do not take Amantadine Solution if: – you are allergic to amantadine hydrochloride or any of the other ingredients of this medicine (listed in section 6) – you have epilepsy or have ever had fits (convulsions) – you have ever had an ulcer in your stomach or small intestine – you suffer from any serious kidney disease – you are pregnant or trying to become pregnant (see section 2 Pregnancy and breastfeeding) – you are breastfeeding (see section 2 Pregnancy and breastfeeding) If any of the above applies to you, or if you are not sure, speak to your doctor or pharmacist before you take Amantadine Solution. Warnings and precautions Talk to your doctor before taking Amantadine Solution if you: – suffer from any liver or kidney disease – have a history of disease involving the heart and blood vessels – are currently suffering from heart problems or heart failure (heart problems which cause shortness of breath or ankle swelling) – have problems thinking clearly or quickly, feel disorientated; find it difficult to pay attention, make decisions or remember things – sometimes see, hear, feel, smell or taste things that are not really there (have hallucinations) – have any form of mental health problem, for example schizophrenia, dementia – have glaucoma (increased pressure in the eye) If any of the above applies to you, or if you are not sure, speak to your doctor or pharmacist before you take Amantadine Solution. Tell your doctor if you or your family/carer notices that you are developing urges or cravings to behave in ways that are unusual for you and you cannot resist the impulse, drive or temptation to carry out certain activities that could harm yourself or others. These are called impulse control disorders and can include behaviours such as addictive gambling, excessive eating or spending, an abnormally high sex drive or an increase in sexual thoughts or feelings. Your doctor may need to adjust or stop your dose of Amantadine Solution. If blurred vision or other visual problems occur please contact an eye doctor immediately. If you have any thoughts or feelings about harming or killing yourself tell your doctor or go to a hospital straight away. There have been reports of people taking amantadine attempting to take their own life. Children Do not give this medicine to children under the age of 3 years old, unless advised by your doctor or pharmacist. There have been reports of children developing hypothermia when taking amantadine. Hypothermia is a dangerous drop in body temperature below 35°C. Early signs include cold and pale skin, shivering, slurred speech, fast breathing, tiredness, confusion. If this medicine has been prescribed for a child, and he/ she shows any signs of hypothermia seek immediate medical help. Do not stop taking Amantadine Solution suddenly without discussing it with your doctor first. Abrupt discontinuation could cause your condition to worsen or for you to have withdrawal effects which could be serious (see section 3 ‘If you stop taking Amantadine Solution’ for further information). Other medicines and Amantadine Solution Tell your doctor or pharmacist if you are taking, have recently taken or might take any other medicines. This includes medicines obtained without a prescription and herbal medicines. This is because amantadine may affect the way some medicines work. Also some medicines can affect the way amantadine works. In particular tell your doctor or pharmacist if you are taking any of the following: • medicines called antimuscarinics or anticholinergics, which affect the way nerve cells function in order to treat certain medical conditions. They include medicines used for Parkinson’s disease e.g. procyclidine, orphenadrine; irritable bowel syndrome and diverticular disease e.g. dicycloverine, hyoscine, propantheline; asthma and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) e.g ipratropium, tiotropium; incontinence e.g. oxybutynin, tolterodine, flavoxate • levodopa, used to treat Parkinson’s disease • medicines called antipsychotics, used to help people feel calmer and improve thoughts, feelings and behaviour when disturbed due to conditions such as schizophrenia, mania, delirium. Examples of antipsychotic medicines include chlorpromazine, flupentixol, zuclopenthixol, haloperidol, quetiapine, risperidone • medicines called diuretics (water tablets), used to relieve water retention and reduce high blood pressure e.g. medicines containing hydrochlorothiazide and amiloride or triamterene Amantadine Solution with alcohol Be careful when drinking alcohol whilst taking Amantadine Solution. This is because it may affect you more than usual and can also increase the chances of you getting side effects from amantadine. Pregnancy and breastfeeding Do not take Amantadine Solution if you are pregnant or trying to become pregnant. Do not take Amantadine Solution if you are breastfeeding because amantadine passes into breast milk and could harm your baby. If you are pregnant or breastfeeding, think you may be pregnant or are planning to have a baby, ask your doctor or pharmacist for advice before taking this medicine. Driving and using machines Do not drive whilst taking this medicine until you know how this medicine affects you. Amantadine Solution may cause side effects that affect your ability to drive safely. For example, it may affect your vision or concentration, make you feel dizzy or confused (see section 4). If this happens do not drive or use any tools or machines. If you are in any doubt about whether it is safe for you to do a particular activity, talk to your doctor. Amantadine Solution contains Sorbitol (E420), Sodium benzoate (E211), Ethanol, Propylene glycol (E1520) and Benzyl alcohol: This medicine contains up to 6.5 g sorbitol in each 10 ml dose. Sorbitol is a source of fructose. If your doctor has told you that you (or your child) have an intolerance to some sugars or if you have been diagnosed with hereditary fructose intolerance (HFI), a rare genetic disorder in which a person cannot break down fructose, talk to your doctor before you (or your child) take or receive Amantadine Solution. Sorbitol may cause gastrointestinal discomfort and a mild laxative effect. This medicine contains 20 mg sodium benzoate in each 10 ml dose. Sodium Benzoate may increase jaundice (yellowing of the skin and eyes) in newborn babies (up to 4 weeks old). This medicine contains less than 1mmol sodium (23 mg) per 10 ml dose, that is to say essentially ‘sodium-free’. This medicine contains small amounts of ethanol (alcohol), less than 100 mg per 10 ml dose. This medicine contains up to 12 mg propylene glycol in each 10 ml dose. If this medicine has been prescribed for a baby that is less than 4 weeks old, talk to your doctor or pharmacist before giving them this medicine, in particular if the baby is given other medicines that contain propylene glycol or alcohol. This medicine contains 12 mg benzyl alcohol in each 10 ml dose. Benzyl alcohol may cause allergic reactions and has been linked with the risk of severe side effects including breathing problems (called “gasping syndrome”) in young children. Do not give to your newborn baby (up to 4 weeks old), unless recommended by your doctor. Do not use for more than a week in young children (less than 3 years old), unless advised by your doctor or pharmacist. Ask your doctor or pharmacist for advice if you have a liver or kidney disease or if you are pregnant or breastfeeding. This is because large amounts of benzyl alcohol can build-up in your body and may cause side effects (called “metabolic acidosis”).