Posts Tagged ‘benzodiazepine’

Generic Name
Deferasirox (deh-fur-ASS-sih-rox)
Brand Name Exjade
Type of Drug
Iron chelating agent. Prescribed For
Chronic iron overload. General Information
Deferasirox binds with iron in stored in the liver. It can also bind small amounts of zinc and copper but the importance of these effects are not known. Almost 3/4 of every dose is absorbed into the bloodstream. Most of the drug is broken down in the liver and passes out of the body in the feces. Women clear this drug from their bodies 17.5% slower than men, but this has not affected how it is used or the doses given.
Cautions and Warnings
Do not take deferasirox if you are allergic or sensitive to any of its ingredients. Most reactions occur within the first month of treatment.
People with liver disease should have monthly blood tests while taking deferasirox.
Kidney failure has developed in people taking deferasirox with fatal results in some cases. People with or those who are at risk of kidney failure should have routine kidney monitoring while taking this medication. People who are at risk for kidney failure in-ciudes seniors, those with kidney disease, and people taking medicines that affect kidney function. Dose adjustment may be needed.
Deferasirox has been associated with potentially severe reduced white-blood-cell and platelet counts, usually in people with preexisting blood disorders.
Rarely, deferasirox has caused hearing loss and eye problems. You should have a full hearing and eye exam before starting on this drug and once a year thereafter.
Skin rash can occur with this medicine. If it is severe, the drug may have to be temporarily stopped. It may be restarted at a lower dosage.
Possible Side Effects
♦    Most common: fever, headache, abdominal pain, cough, sore throat, nasal irritation, diarrhea, flu symptoms, nausea, and vomiting.
✓    Common: respiratory infections, bronchitis, runny nose, rash, upper abdominal pain, joint pain, back pain, tonsillitis, and ear infection.
✓    Less common: itching.
✓    Rare: stomach pain, swelling in the arms or legs, sleep disorder, skin color changes, dizziness, anxiety, gallstones, fatigue, early cataract and hearing loss, some visual haziness, and other eye disorders. Contact your doctor if you experience anything unusual.
Drug Interactions
•    Do not mix antacids containing aluminum with deferasirox. They can prevent it from being absorbed.
Food Interactions
This drug should be taken at the same time every day on an empAq stomach, 30 minutes before eating.
Ustlak 13bSe
Adult and Child (age 2 and over): 9-13.6 mg per lb. of body weight once a day. Dose adjustments will be made according to your response. See “Special Information” for a specific instructions on how to take these tablets.
Overdosage
Large doses of 2-3 times the prescribed amount taken for several weeks with no adverse effects have occurred. Overdose symptoms include hepatitis (mild fever, muscle or joint aches, nausea, vomiting, appetite loss, slight abdominal pain, diarrhea, and fatigue) and some drug side effects. Take the victim to a hospital emergency room for treatment because the heart may be affected. ALWAYS bring the prescription bottle or container.
Special Information
Call your doctor at once if you develop a severe skin rash.
You must have regular vision and hearing tests while taking deferasirox.
Deferasirox tablets should not be chewed or swallowed whole. They must first be mixed completely in 1/2-1 glass of water, orange juice, or apple juice. The tablet will not dissolve but tablet particles will become suspended in the liquid. Drink the resulting sus-Pension immediately. If there is anything left in the glass after drinking the suspension, add a small amount of liquid, mix it with the remaining tablet particles and drink it.
This drug can cause dizziness. Be cautious while driving, operating machinery, or doing anything that requires intense concentration.
If you forget a dose, take it as soon as you remember. If it is almost time for the next dose, skip the one you forgot and continue with your regular schedule. Do not take a double dose.
Special Populations
Pregnancy/Breast-feeding: There are no studies of ranolazine in pregnant women or of its effect on the developing fetus. Pregnant women should take this drug only if its potential benefits outweigh the risks.
This drug may pass into breast milk. Nursing mothers should consider using infant formula.
Seniors: Seniors may experience more drug side effects than younger adults due to greater chances of reduced kidney, liver, and heart function; other diseases; or drug side effects.

Generic Name
Desmopressin (dez-moe-PRES-in)
Brand Names
DDAVP Minirin
Type of Drug
Pituitary hormone replacement.
Stimate
Prescribed For
Nighttime bed-wetting and diabetes insipidus (central or cranial diabetes); also used to control bleeding in certain forms of hemophilia A and von Willebrand’s disease.
General Information
Desmopressin acetate is a synthetic version of antidiuretic hormone (ADH). When ADH is lacking, the body has difficulty retaining fluid. People lacking ADH experience excessive thirst, increased urination, and dehydration; desmopressin controls these symptoms. When used for nighttime bed-wetting, desmopressin should be used in conjunction with behavioral or other non-drug therapies.
Cautions and Warnings
Do not take desmopressin if you are allergic or sensitive to any of its ingredients.
People, especially children and seniors and people with cystic fibrosis and electrolyte imbalances, should only drink enough fluid to satisfy their thirst while taking desmopressin because of the risk of water intoxication, which can result in seizures that could lead to coma. People with coronary artery disease, heart disease, or high blood pressure should use this drug with caution.
Heart attacks and St&D’KeS after treatment with desmopressin MV~bEbn reported in people at risk for them, but there is no definite link to desmopressin use.
People using desmopressin should have their urine checked regularly by their doctor. Your doctor should also check for nasal swelling, congestion, and scarring.
Drug Interactions
experience in blood pressure, loss of sodium, symptoms include coma, confusion, ng headache, decreased urination, rapid
zures), edema, stomach or abdominal dness or flushing of the skin, passing ain, and stuffy or runny nose. Contact perience any side effect not listed above.
Possible Side Effects
V Rare: slight increase
intoxication (
drowsiness, continuin
gain, and seizures)
nausea, rednes
vulvar pain
doctor if you
•    Desmopressin may increase the effects of other drugs that raise blood pressure. This only happens with large dosages.
•    Chlorpropamide and carbamazepine may increase the effects of desmopressin.
Food Interactions None known.
Usual Dose
Nasal Solution—Nighttime Bed-Wetting
Adult and Child (age 6 and over): 20 mcg (0.2 mL) at bedtime. Child (under age 6): not recommended.
Nasal Solution—Diabetes Insipidus
Adult: 0.1-0.4 mL a day in 1-3 doses.
Child (age 3 months-12 years): 0.05-0.3 mL a day in 1-2 doses.
Tablets—Nighttime Bed-wetting
Adult and Child (age 6 and over): Begin with 0.2 mg at bedtime, adjusting to individual need up to 0.6 mg.
Child (under age 6): not recommended.
Tablets—Diabetes Insipidus
Adult: Begin with 0.05 mg twice a day. Daily dosage should be increased according to individual need, up to 1.2 mg a day divided into 2-3 doses.
Child (age 4 aid over): Begin with 0.05 mg and adjust according to individual need.
Child (under age 4): not recommended.
Overdosage
Symptoms include headache, difficulty breathing, abdominal cramps, nausea, and facial flushing. Call your doctor or a hospi-tal emergency room if you suspect an overdose. Because there is no known antidote to desmopressin, your dosage may be temporarily reduced until overdose symptoms subside. If you seek treatment, ALWAYS bring the prescription bottle or container.
Special Information
Call your doctor if you develop headache, breathing difficulties, heartburn, nausea, abdominal or stomach cramps, or vulvar pain.
The Stimate Nasal Solution spray pump and Minirin spray must be primed before its first use. To prime the pump, press down 4 times. Stimate delivers 25 doses per bottle. Throw away the bottle after 25 doses have been used, because anything remaining after the 25th dose is likely to deliver less drug than is needed.
If you forget a dose of desmopressin, take it as soon as you remember. If you don’t remember until your next dose, skip the forgotten dose and continue with your regular schedule. Do not take a double dose.
Special Populations
Pregnancy/Breast-feeding: The safety of using desmopressin during pregnancy is not known, though it has been used to treat diabetes insipidus in pregnant women without apparent harm to the fetus. When this drug is considered crucial by your doctor, its potential benefits must be carefully weighed against its risks.
Desmopressin may pass into breast milk. Nursing mothers who must use this drug should use infant formula.
Seniors: Seniors should avoid drinking too much fluid while taking desmopressin.

Generic Name
Diazepam (dye-AZ-uh-pam) rVg_l
Brand Names
Diastat    Valium
Diazepam Intensol    Valrelease
The information in this profile also applies to the following drugs:
Lorazepam &
Ativan    Lorazepam Intensol
Oxazepam M
Type of Drug  Benzodiazepine sedative.
Prescribed For
Anxiety, tension, fatigue, agitation (particularly due to alcohol withdrawal), muscle spasm, and seizures; also prescribed for irritable bowel syndrome and panic attacks.
General Information
Diazepam and other benzodiazepines directly affect the brain. They can relax you and make you more tranquil or sleepy, or they can slow nervous system transmissions in such a way as to act as an anticonvulsant.
Cautions and Warnings
Do not take diazepam if you know you are allergic or sensitive to any of its ingredients or to another benzodiazepine drug, including clonazepam.
Diazepam can aggravate narrow-angle glaucoma, but you may take it if you have open-angle glaucoma and are receiving therapy for it.
Other conditions in which diazepam should be avoided are severe depression, severe lung disease, steep apnea (intermittent cessation of breathing during sleep), liver disease, drunkenness, and kidney disease. In all of these conditions, the depressive effects of diazepam may be enhanced or could be detrimental to your overall condition.
Diazepam should not be taken by psychotic patients. It is not effective for them and can trigger unusual excitement, stimulation, and rage.
Diazepam is not intended for more \han 3-4 months of continuous use. Your comikkni) should be reassessed before continuing YOU( MS-16cation beyond that time.
Diazepam may be addictive. It should be used with caution in people with a history of drug dependence.
Drug withdrawal may develop if you stop taking it after only 4 weeks of regular use but is more likely after longer use. It may start with anxiety and progress to tingling in the hands or feet, sensi-tivity to bright light, sleep disturbances, cramps, tremors, muscle tension or twitching, poor concentration, flu-like symptoms, fatigue, appetite loss, sweating, and changes in mental state. Your dosage should always be reduced gradually to prevent drug withdrawal symptoms.
Possible Side Effects
Y Most common: mild drowsiness during the first few days of therapy. Weakness and confusion may occur, especially in seniors and in those who are sickly. If these effects persist, contact your doctor.
♦ Less common: depression, lethargy, disorientation, headache, inactivity, slurred speech, stupor, dizziness, tremors, constipation, dry mouth, nausea, inability to control urination, sexual difficulties, irregular menstrual cycle, changes in heart rhythm, low blood pressure, fluid retention, blurred or double vision, itching, rash, hiccups, nervousness, hysteria, psychosis, inability to fall asleep, and occasional liver dysfunction. If you have any of these symptoms, stop taking the drug and contact your doctor at once.
•    Rare: Rare side effects can affect your heart, stomach and intestines, urinary tract, blood, muscles, and joints. Contact your doctor if you experience any side effect not listed above.
Drug Interactions
•    Diazepam is a central-nervous-system depressant. Avoid alcohol, other sedatives, narcotics, barbiturates, monoamine oxidase inhibitor antidepressants, antihistamines, and antidepressants. Taking diazepam with these drugs may lead to excessive depression, drowsiness, or difficulty breathing.
•    Smoking may reduce diazepam’s effectiveness by increasing the rate at which it is broken down by the body.
•    Effects of diazepam may be prolonged when taken with cimeti(1(m,, Contraceptive drugs, disulfiram, fluoxetine, isoniazid, ketoconazole, rifampin, metoprolol, probenecid, propoxyphene, propranolol, and valproic acid.
•    Theophylline may reduce the sedative effects of diazepam.
•    If you take antacids, separate them from your diazepam dose by at least 1 hour to prevent them from interfering with the passage of diazepam into the bloodstream.
•    Diazepam may increase blood levels of digoxin and the chances for digoxin toxicity.
•    Levodopa + carbidopa’s effects may be decreased if it is taken with diazepam.
Combining diazepam and phenytoin may increase phenytoin blood concentrations and the risk of phenytoin toxicity.
Food Interactions
Diazepam is best taken on an empty stomach, but it may be taken with food if it upsets your stomach.
Usual Dose
Solution or Tablets
Adult’. 2-40 mg a day. Dosage must be adjusted to individual response for maximum effect. In seniors, less of the drug is usually required to control tension and anxiety.
Child (6 months and over): 1-2.5 mg 3 or 4 times a day; more may be needed to control anxiety and tension.
Child (under 6 months): not recommended.
Rectal Gel
Adult and Child (age 12 and over): 0.09 mg per lb. of body weight. Approximate dosage: 5 mg if 31-60 lbs., 10 mg if 61 -110 lbs., 15 mg if 111-165 lbs., or 20 mg if 166-244 lbs.
Child (age 6-11): 0.14 mg per lb. of body weight. Approximate dosage: 5 mg if 22-40 lbs., 10 mg if 41-82 lbs., 15 mg if 83-121 lbs., or 20 mg if 122-163 lbs.
Child (age 2-5): 0.23 mg per lb. of body weight. Approximate dosage: 5 mg if 13-24 lbs., 10 mg if 25-49 lbs., 15 mg if 50-73 lbs., or 20 mg if 74-97 lbs.
An extra 2.5 mg of the rectal gel may be given if a more precise dosage is needed or as a partial replacement for people who do not retain the full dosage after it is first inserted rectally.
Overdosage
SYMPUns of overdose include confusion, sleepiness, poor coordination, lack of response to pain, loss of reflexes, shallow breathing, low blood pressure, and coma. The victim should be taken to a hospital emergency room. ALWAYS bring the prescription bottle or container.

Generic Name
Clonidine (KLAH-nih-dene)
Brand Names
Catapres-TTS-2
Catapres-TTS-1    Catapres-TTS-3
Type of Drug
Alpha receptor stimulant.
Prescribed For
High blood pressure, including hypertensive emergency (diastolic blood pressure over 120); also used for excess sweating, childhood growth delay, attention-deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD), Tourette’s syndrome, restless leg syndrome, schizophrenic psychosis, migraine, ulcerative colitis, painful or difficult menstruation, hot flashes related to menopause, diagnosis of pheochromocytoma (adrenal-gland tumor), kidney poisoning associated with cyclosporine, diabetic diarrhea, smoking cessation, methadone and opiate detoxification, withdrawal from alcohol and benzodiazepines such as Valium, nerve pain following herpes attack, and allergic reactions in the presence of asthma triggered by external sources.
General Information
Clonidine stimulates nerve endings in the brain called alphaadrenergic receptors. It reduces blood pressure by dilating (widening) blood vessels. Clonidine works quickly, decreasing blood pressure within 1 hour. The other uses of clonidine relate to its stimulation of alpha receptors in the body.
Cautions and Warnings
Do not take clonidine if you are allergic or sensitive to any of its ingredients.
People who have had a stroke or recent heart attack or who have cardiac insufficiency or chronic kidney failure should avoid taking clonidine.
Some people develop a tolerance of their clonidine dosage. If this happens, your blood pressure may increase and your doctor may prescribe a higher dose.
Never stop taking clonidine without your doctor’s knowledge. If you abruptly stop taking clonidine, you may experience an unusual increase in blood pressure accompanied by agitation, headache, nervousness, and severe reactions, possibly death. Restarting clonidine therapy or taking another antihypertensive can reverse these effects.
Clonidine may cause degeneration of the    See your eye doctor for regular GheCk Ups lfiyou are taking this drug.
); you require surgery, your doctor will continue your clonidine therapy until about 4 hours before surgery and resume it as soon as possible afterward.
People who develop skin sensitivity (symptoms include rash, itching, and swelling) to Catapres-TTS, the transdermal patch form of clonidine, may experience the same reactions with oral clonidine.
Possible Side Effects
Tablets
♦    Most common: dry mouth, drowsiness, dizziness, constipation, and sedation.
♦    Common: headache and fatigue. These effects tend to diminish within 4-6 weeks.
•    Less common: appetite loss, swelling or pain in the glands of the throat, nausea, vomiting, weight gain, blood-sugar elevation, breast pain or enlargement, worsening of congestive heart failure, heart palpitations, rapid heartbeat, painful blood-vessel spasm, abnormal heart rhythms, electrocardiogram changes, feeling unwell, changes in dream patterns, nightmares, difficulty sleeping, hallucinations, delirium, anxiety, depression, nervousness, restlessness, rash, hives, thinning or loss of scalp hair, difficult or painful urination, nighttime urination, retaining urine, decrease or loss of sex drive, weakness, muscle or joint pain, leg cramps, increased alcohol sensitivity, dryness and burning of the eyes, dry nose, loss of color, and fever.
Transdermal Patch
✓    Most common: dry mouth and drowsiness.
✓    Less common: constipation, nausea, changes in sense of taste, dry throat, fatigue, headache, lethargy, changes in sleep patterns, nervousness, dizziness, impotence, sexual difficulties, and mild skin reactions including itching, swelling, contact dermatitis, discoloration, burning, peeling, throbbing, white patches, and generalized rash. Rashes of the face and tongue have also occurred but cannot be specifically tied to transdermal clonidine.
Drug Interactions
•    Combining clonidine and a beta-adrenergic blocker may increase the severity of a drug-withdrawal reaction and rebound high MW pressure. This reaction may be very serious.
•    Combining verapamil and clonidine may lead to very low blood pressure and atrioventricular (AV) block (abnormality in heartbeat patterns). This reaction may be very serious.
O    Avoid alcohol, barbiturates, and sedatives because they increase the depressive effects of clonidine.
•    Tricyclic and other antidepressants, appetite suppressants, estrogens, stimulants, indomethacin and other nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs), and prazosin may counteract the effects of clonidine.
•    clonidine may reduce the therapeutic effects of levadopa +
carbidopa.
Food Interactions
The tablets are best taken on an empty stomach but may be taken with food if they upset your stomach.
Usual Dose
Tablets
Adult: high blood pressure-100 mcg twice a day to start; may be raised by 100 mcg a day until maximum control is achieved. Take no more than 2400 mcg a day. Other uses-100-goo mcg a day, or up to 0.8 mcg per lb. of body weight in divided doses. Seniors should start with a lower dose and increase more slowly.
Child: 50-400 mcg orally twice a day.
Transdermal Patch
Adult: 100 mcg delivered daily from a patch applied once every 7 days. Up to two 300-mcg patches may be needed to control blood pressure. Transdermal dosage exceeding 600 mcg a day has not been shown to increase effectiveness.
Child: not recommended.
Overdosage
Symptoms of overdose are slow heartbeat, central- nervous-system depression, very slow breathing, low body temperature, pinpoint pupils, seizures, lethargy, agitation, irritability, nausea, vomiting, abnormal heart rhythms, mild increases in blood pressure followed by a rapid drop in blood pressure, dizziness, weakness, loss of reflexes, and vomiting. Victims should be taken to a hospital emergency room immediately. ALWAYS bring the prescription bottle or container.
Special Information
Gk’3t1161)e causes drowsiness in about 1/3 of people who take it. Be extremely careful while driving or performing any task that requires concentration. This effect is prominent during the first few weeks of clonidine therapy and then tends to decrease.
Do not take over-the-counter cough and cold medications unless directed by your doctor.
Call your doctor it you become depressed or have vivid dreams or nightmares while taking clonidine, or if you develop swelling in your feet or legs, paleness or coldness in your fingertips or toes, or any persistent or bothersome side effect.
Apply the transdermal patch to a hairless area of skin such as the upper arm or torso. Use a different skin site each time. If the patch becomes loose, apply the supplied adhesive directly over it. If the patch falls off before 7 days are up, apply a new one. Do not remove the patch while bathing.
If you forget a dose of oral clonidine, take it as soon as possible and then go back to your regular schedule. If you miss 2 or more consecutive doses, consult your doctor; missed doses may cause blood pressure increases and severe adverse effects. Do not take a double dose.
Special Populations
Pregnancy/Breast-feeding: Clonidine passes into the fetal bloodstream. Animal studies show that clonidine may damage the fetus in doses as low as 1/3 the maximum dose. When this drug is considered crucial by your doctor, its potential benefits must be carefully weighed against its risks.
Clonidine passes into breast milk. Nursing mothers who must take this drug should use infant formula.
Seniors: Seniors are more susceptible to the effects of this drug and should begin with lower doses.

Generic Name
Clopidogrel (kloe-PID-oe-grel) nQ
Brand Name  Plavix
Type lul Drug Antiplatelet.
Prescribed For
Heart attack and stroke prevention; also used for blood thinning after placement of a vascular stent.
General Information
Artery-clogging blood clots are often the cause of heart attacks and strokes. clopidogrel reduces the risk of both by helping prevent blood-clot formation. This drug thins the blood by making platelets—the cells that aggregate to form clots—less “sticky.” It starts working in as little as 2 hours after taking a single tablet. The drug’s blood-thinning effect lasts until inactivated platelets are replaced by the body. Studies suggest that clopidogrel is more effective than aspirin in preventing heart attack and stroke in people at risk. People taking clopidogrel after scent surgery usually take it for a relatively short period. Those taking it to prevent a heart attack or stroke must take it for life.
Cautions and Warnings
Do not take clopidogrel if you are allergic or sensitive to any of its ingredients or to ticlopidine, a related antiplatelet. These drugs can rarely cause a rapid drop in white-blood-cell count.
People with bleeding ulcers, brain hemorrhages, or other bleeding problems should use clopidogrel with caution.
Thrombotic thrombocytopenic purpura (TTP) is a rare but serious complication of clopidogrel, sometimes reported after less than 2 weeks of treatment. See your doctor right away if you develop a sudden fever, unusual bruising, nosebleeds, bleeding gums, or any other unusual symptoms. TTP reduces your platelet count, interfering with blood clotting, and affects white-blood-cell count.
People with liver problems should use clopidogrel with caution.
Possible Side Effects
✓    Most common: rash and other skin problems.
✓    Common: chest pain, accidents, flu-like symptoms, pain, headache, dizziness, abdominal pain, upset stomach, joint pain, back pain, black-and-blue marks, and respiratory infection.
✓    Less common: tiredness, Swollen arms or legs, high blood pressure, diarrhea, nausea, bleeding, nosebleeds, breathing difficulties, runny nose, coughing, bronchitis, high blood cholesterol, urinary infection, and depression.
✓    Rare: bleeding in the brain and stomach ulcer. Contact your doctor if you experience any side effect not listed above.
Drug Interactions
•    Clopidogrel may interfere with the body’s ability to break down fluvastatin, nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs), phenytoin, tamoxifen, tolbutamide, torsamide, and
warfann.
•    Combining clopidogrel and NSAIDs may increase blood loss and bleeding in the stomach and intestines.
•    Do not combine clopidogrel and other antiplatelet drugs or
the anticoagulant (blood thinner) warfarin unless you are
under your doctor’s direct supervision. This interaction may
prevent normal blood clotting and lead to severe bleeding
problems.
Food Interactions
Clopidogrel may be taken without regard to food or meals.
Usual Dose
Adult: 75 mg a day.
Overdosage
Little is known about the effects of clopidogrel overdose aside from reduced blood clotting. Overdose victims should be taken to a hospital emergency room. ALWAYS bring the prescription bottle or container.
Special Information
Minor cuts may take longer to stop bleeding during treatment with clopidogrel. If you are having surgery, make sure your doctor knows you are taking clopidogrel. You may have to stop taking the drug I week before surgery.
If you forget a dose, take it as soon as you remember. If it is almost time for your next dose, skip the forgotten dose and continue with your regular schedule.
Special Populations
Pregnancy/Breast-feeding: The safety of using clopidogrel during pregnancy is not known. Other antiplatelet drugs, tike aspirin, are not used during pregnancy due to their possible effects on Mrjlher and fetus. When this drug is considered crucial by your doctor, its benefits must be carefully weighed against its risks.
Clopidogrel may pass into breast milk. Nursing mothers who must take this drug should use infant formula.
Seniors: Seniors may take this drug without special precaution.

Generic Name
Clorazepate (klor-AZ-uh-pate) 99
Brand Names
Gen-Xene    Tranxene-SD
Tranxene    Tranxene T-Tab
Type of Drug
Benzodiazepine sedative.
Prescribed For
Anxiety, tension, fatigue, and agitation; symptoms of acute alcohol withdrawal; partial seizures; also prescribed for irritable bowel syndrome and panic attacks.
General Information
Clorazepate dipotassium is a benzodiazepine. Benzodiazepines directly affect the brain. They can relax you and make you more tranquil or sleepier, or they can slow nervous system transmissions in such a way as to act as an anticonvulsant. Many doctors prefer benzodiazepines to other drugs that can be used to similar effect because they tend to be safer, have fewer side effects, and usually work as well, if not better.
Cautions and Warnings
Do not take clorazepate if you are allergic or sensitive to any of its ingredients or to another benzodiazepine drug, including clonazepam.
Clorazepate can aggravate narrow-angle glaucoma, but you may take it if you have open-angle glaucoma and are receiving therapy for it.
Other conditions in which clorazepate should be avoided are: severe depression, severe lung disease, sleep apnea (intermittent cessation of breathing during sleep), liver disease, drunkenness, and kidney diseaap_, to inOn of these conditions, the qq)NSSvve effects of clorazepate may be enhanced or could be detrimental to your overall condition.
Clorazepate should not be taken by psychotic patients because it is not effective for them and can trigger unusual excitement, stimulation, and rage.
Clorazepate is not intended to be used for more than 3-4 months at a time. Your doctor should reassess your condition before continuing your prescription beyond that time.
Clorazepate may be addictive. It should be used with caution in people with a history of drug dependence.
Drug withdrawal may develop if you stop taking it after as few as 4 weeks of regular use but is more likely after longer use. It may start with anxiety and progress to tingling in the hands or feet, sensitivity to bright light, sleep disturbances, cramps, tremors, muscle tension or twitching, poor concentration, flu-like symptoms, fatigue, appetite loss, sweating, and changes in mental state. Your dosage should always be reduced gradually to prevent drug withdrawal symptoms.
Possible Side Effects
Weakness and confusion may occur, especially in seniors and in those who are more sickly.
✓    Most common: mild drowsiness during the first few days of therapy.
✓    Less common: confusion, depression, lethargy, disorientation, headache, inactivity, slurred speech, stupor, dizziness, tremors, constipation, dry mouth, nausea, inability to control urination, sexual difficulties, irregular menstrual cycle, changes in heart rhythm, low blood pressure, fluid retention, blurred or double vision, itching, rash, hiccups, nervousness, inability to fall asleep, and occasional liver and kidney dysfunction. If you have any of these symptoms, stop taking the medicine and contact your doctor immediately.
✓    Rare: Rare side effects can affect your heart, stomach and intestines, urinary tract, blood, muscles and joints. Contact your doctor if you experience any side effects not listed above.
Drug Interactions
•    Clorazepate is a central-nervous-system depressant. Don’t mix it with alcohol, other sedatives, narcotics, barbiturates, monoamine oxidase inhibitor and other antidepressants, and antihistamines. Taking Clorazepate with these drugs may result in excessive depression, tiredness, sleepiness, breathing difficulties, or related symptoms.
•    Smoking may reduce clorazepate’s effectiveness by in-
creasing the rate at which it is broken down by the body.
•    Clorazepate’s effects may be prolonged when it is mixed with cimetidine, contraceptive drugs, disulfiram, fluoxetine, isoniazid, ketoconazole, metoprolol, probenecid, propoxyphene, propranolol, rifampin, or valproic acid. Theophylline may reduce clorazepate’s sedative effects.
•    If you take antacids, separate them from your clorazepate dose by at least 1 hour to prevent them from interfering with the absorption of clorazepate into the bloodstream.
•    Clorazepate may increase blood levels of digoxin and the chances of digoxin toxicity.
•    The effect of levodopa + carbidopa may be decreased if it is taken together with clorazepate.
•    Combining clorazepate with phenytoin may increase phenytoin blood concentrations and the chances of phenytoin toxicity.
Food Interactions
Clorazepate is best taken on an empty stomach, but it may be taken with food if it upsets your stomach.
Usual Dose
Immediate-Release
Adult and Child (age 9 and over): 15-60 mg daily. The average dose is 30 mg in divided quantities, but dosage must be adjusted to individual response for maximum effect. Maximum recommended daily dose is 90 mg. For treatment of anxiety, clorazepate may be taken as a single dose at bedtime.
Child (under age 9): not recommended.
Sustained-Release
Adult: The sustained-release form of clorazepate may be given as a single dose, either 11.25 or 22.5 mg, once every 24 hours. Sustained-release tablets are not recommended for the initial dosage.
Child: not recommended.
Overdosage
Symptoms of overdose are confusion, sleepiness, poor coordination, lack of response to pain such as a pin prick, loss of reflexes, shallow breathing, low blood pressure, and coma. The victim should be taken to a hospital emergency room. ALWAYS bring the prescription bottle or container.
Special Information
Clorazepate can cause tiredness, drowsiness, inability to concentrate, or similar symptoms. Be careful if you are driving, operating machinery, or performing other activities that require concentration.
People taking clorazepate for more than 3 or 4 months at a time may develop drug withdrawal reactions if the medication is stopped suddenly (see “Cautions and Warnings”). Do not stop taking clorazepate or increase or decrease your dosage without first consulting your doctor.
If you forget a dose of clorazepate, take it as soon as you remember. If it is almost time for your next dose, skip the dose you forgot and continue with your regular schedule. Do not take a double dose.
Special Populations
Pregnancy/Breast-feeding: Clorazepate may cause birth defects if taken during the first 3 months of pregnancy. Avoid this drug if you are or might be pregnant.
Clorazepate may pass into breast milk. Nursing mothers who must take clorazepate should use infant formula.
Seniors: Seniors, especially those with liver or kidney disease, are more sensitive to the effects of clorazepate and generally require smaller doses to achieve the same effect.

Generic Name
Clemastine (KLEH-mas-tene) A
Brand Names
DayHist-1    Tavist-1
Tavist    Tavist Allergy
Combination Pr(3dUtj
Generic Ingredients: Acetaminophen + Clemastine + Pseudoephedrine
Tavist Allergy/Sinus/Headache
Type of Drug  Antihistamine.
Prescribed For
Sneezing, stuffy and runny nose, itchy eyes, and scratchy throat caused by seasonal allergies and for other symptoms of allergies such as rash, itching, and hives.
General Information
Antihistamines generally work by blocking the release of naturally occuring histamine (a chemical released by body tissue during an allergic reaction) from cells at the H, histamine receptor site, drying up secretions of the nose, throat, and eyes. Clemastine fumarate is less sedating than most antihistamines, but not less sedating than astemizole, cetirizine, or loratadine.
Cautions and Warnings
Clemastine should not be taken if you are allergic or sensitive to any of its ingredients.
People with asthma or other deep-breathing problems, heart disease, high blood pressure, diabetes, enlarged prostate, glaucoma, stomach ulcers or other stomach problems, and hyperthyroidism should use clemastine with caution because its side effects can aggravate these problems.
Possible Side Effects
✓    Most common: drowsiness; headache; weakness; nervousness; stomach upset; nausea; vomiting; cough; stuffy nose; diarrhea; constipation; sore throat; nosebleeds; and dry mouth, nose, or throat.
✓    Less common: allergic reaction (symptoms include rash, itching, hives, and breathing difficulties), sleeplessness, menstrual irregularities, muscle aches, sweating, tingling in the hands or feet, frequent urination, visual disturbances, and ringing or buzzing in the ears.
Drug Interactions
•    Cbrnbining clemastine with alcohol, sedatives, sleeping pills, or other nervous system depressants may increase the depressant effects of clemastine. Do not combine these drugs.
•    The effects of oral anticoagulant (blood-thinning) drugs may be decreased by clemastine. Do not take this combination without your doctor’s knowledge.
Monoamine oxidase inhibitor antidepressants may increase the drying and other effects of clemastine. This combination can also worsen urinary difficulties.
e When taking antihistamines on a regular basis, notify your doctor if you are taking large amounts of aspirin. Effects of too much aspirin may be masked by the antihistamine.
Food Interactions
Clemastine is best taken on an empty stomach at least 1 hour before or 2 hours after eating; it may be taken with food if it upsets your stomach.
Usual Dose
Adult and Child (age 12 and over): 1.34 mg twice a day up to 8.04 mg of the syrup or 2.68 mg of the tablets in 24 hours.
Child (age 6-12) (syrup only): 0.67 mg twice a day or up to 4.02 mg a day.
Overdosage
Overdose is likely to cause severe side effects. Overdose victims should be given ipecac syrup—available at any pharmacy—to induce vomiting and should then be taken to a hospital emergency room for treatment. ALWAYS bring the prescription bottle or container.
Special Information
Clemastine may make it difficult for you to concentrate or perform complex tasks such as driving a car. Be sure to report any unusual side effects to your doctor
Antihistamines may occasionally produce excitability, particularly in children.
If you forget to take a dose of clemastine, take it as soon as you remember. If it is almost time for your next dose, skip the one you forgot and continue with your regular schedule. Do not take a double dose.
Special Populations
PregnancylBreast-feedj(IV. DO not take any antihistamines without WU ‘Obtlor’s knowledge if you are or might be pregnant—especially during the last 3 months of pregnancy, because newborns may have severe reactions to antihistamines.
Small amounts of clemastine pass into breast milk. Nursing mothers who must take clemastine should use infant formula.
Seniors: Seniors are more sensitive to side effects.

Generic Name
Clindamycin (klin-duh-MYE-sin)
Brand Names
Cleocin    Clindesse
Cleocin T    Clindets
Clinda-Derm    Evoclin Clindagel
Type of Drug  Antibiotic.
Prescribed For
Serious bacterial infections. The vaginal cream is used to treat bacterial vaginosis. Topical clindamycin is used to treat acne and rosacea.
General Information
Clindamycin is one of the few oral drugs that is effective against anaerobic bacteria, which grow only in the absence of oxygen and are often found in infected wounds, lung abscesses, abdominal infections, and infections of the female genital tract. It also works against bacteria usually treated with penicillin or erythromycin, including serious respiratory tract infections. Clindamycin may be useful for treating certain skin or soft tissue infections. It kills the bacteria that frequently cause acne.
Clindamycin is not used to treat vaginal fungus or yeast infections.
Cautions and Warnings
Do not take clindamycin if you are allergic or sensitive to any of its ingredients or to lincomycin, another antibiotic.
People with asthma or a history of allergies should use clindamycin capsules with caution.
Clindamycin can cause a severe intestina(kmkation called colitis, which can be fatal. Signs of colitis are diarrhea, blood in the Stool, and abdominal cramps. Any form of this drug, including products applied to the skin and the vaginal cream, can provoke colitis. Because of this, clindamycin should be reserved for serious infections or those that cannot be treated with other drugs.
Clindamycin should be used with caution if you have gastrointestinal disease or kidney or liver disease.
Possible Side Effects
Capsules
✓    Most common: stomach pain; nausea-, vomiting-, diarrhea,
in up to 20% of people; and pain when swallowing.
♦    Less common: itching; rash; signs of serious drug sensitivity, such as difficulties breathing and yellowing of the skin or the whites of the eyes; colitis, (see “Cautions and Warnings”); effects on blood components; and joint pain.
Topical Lotion
♦    Most common: dry skin, redness, burning, peeling, oily skin, and itching.
♦    Less common: diarrhea, abdominal pain, upset stomach, and colitis (see “Cautions and Warnings”).
Vaginal Cream
♦    Most common: vaginal itching or irritation; thick, white vaginal discharge; and pain during intercourse.
♦    Less common: nausea, vomiting, diarrhea, constipation, abdominal pain, dizziness, headache, vertigo, and colitis (see “Cautions and Warnings”).
Drug Interactions
•    Do not combine clindamycin and erythromycin.
•    The absorption of clindamycin capsules into the bloodstream is delayed by Kaolin-Pectin Suspension (prescribed for diarrhea). Separate these drugs by at least 1 hour.
•    clindamycin should be used with caution by people also using neuromuscular agents.
Food Interactions
Take the oral medication with a full glass of water or with food to prevent irritation of the stomach and intestine.
Usual Dose
Capsules
MUIV ) 50-450 mg every 6 hours.
Child (under age 16): 3.5-11 mg per lb. of body weight a day, in 3-4 doses. For severe infections, at least 37.5 mg 3 times a day, regardless of weight.
Foam: Dispense enough to cover the affected area(s) onto a cool surface (the foam will melt on contact with warm skin). Use fin-gertips to massage small amounts into the affected area(s) until the foam disappears.
Suppositories: Insert 1 suppository a day for 3 consecutive days.
Topical Lotion: Wash the skin and pat dry before application. Apply enough to cover the affected area(s) with a thin coat twice a day.
Vaginal Cream: Insert 1 applicator’s worth at bedtime for 7 consecutive days, except for Clindesse, which requires one applicator’s worth once at any time of day.
Overdosage
clindamycin overdose may lead to severe diarrhea and other drug side effects. Do not treat this diarrhea on your own. Discontinue use of this drug and call your local poison center for information. If you go to an emergency room for treatment, ALWAYS bring the prescription bottle or container.
Special Information
Prolonged or unsupervised use of clindamycin may lead to secondary infections from susceptible organisms. such as fungi. Take this drug for the full course of therapy as indicated by your physician.
If you develop severe diarrhea or abdominal pain, call your doctor at once. Call your doctor immediately if you experience breathing difficulties or jaundice (yellowing of the skin or whites of the eyes).
Women using the vaginal cream should not have vaginal intercourse or use other vaginal products such as tampons or douches until treatment is complete.
Use of latex condoms or diaphragms within 72 hours following treatment with the vaginal creams or suppositories is not recommended. These products may decrease the efficacy of condoms or diaphragms.
The topical lotion is for external use only. Avoid contact with your eyes or mucous membranes.
If you miss a dose of oral clindamycin, take it as soon as you rememlae~. SSW19 almost time for your next dose of clindamycin, double that dose and go back to your regular dosage schedule.
Special Populations
Pregnancy/Breast-feeding: This drug crosses into fetal blood circulation. When the drug is considered crucial by your doctor, its potential benefits must be carefully weighed against its risks.
clindamycin passes into breast milk. Nursing mothers who must take oral clindamycin should use infant formula.
Seniors: Seniors with other illnesses may be unable to tolerate diarrhea and other clindamycin side effects.

Generic Name
Clonazepam (klon-A-zeh-pam)
Brand Name  Klonopin
Type of Drug  Anticonvulsant.
Prescribed For
Petit mal and other seizures and panic attacks; also prescribed for periodic leg movements during sleep, speaking difficulty associated with Parkinson’s disease, acute manic episodes, nerve pain, and schizophrenia.
General Information
Clonazepam is a benzodiazepine drug. Clonazepam is not used as a sedative or hypnotic. It is used only for the uses described above in people who have not responded to other drug treatments. Tolerance to the effects of clonazepam commonly develops within about 3 months of use. Your doctor may raise your clonazepam dosage periodically to maintain the drug’s effect.
Cautions and Warnings
Do not take clonazepam if you are allergic or sensitive to any of its ingredients or any other benzodiazepine.
When stopping clonazepam treatments, the drug must be discontinued gradually. Abrupt discontinuance of clonazepam may lead to drug withdrawal symptoms including severe seizures, tremors, abdominal or muscle cramps, vomiting, whet increased sweating.
IJSIF,l OfMazeparn with caution if you have a chronic respiratory illness, since the drug tends to increase salivation and other respiratory secretions and can make breathing more labored.
Avoid using clonazepam if you have severe depression, severe lung disease, sleep apnea (intermittent cessation of breathing during sleep), liver disease, alcoholism, or kidney disease. These conditions may exacerbate the depressive effects of benzodiazepines, and such effects may be detrimental to your overall
condition.
Clonazepam can aggravate narrow-angle glaucoma, but if you have open-angle glaucoma, you may take it.
Possible Side Effects
♦    Most common: drowsiness, poor muscle control, and behavioral changes.
✓    Rare: Rare side effects can occur in almost any part of the body but are most likely to affect mental function, stomach and intestines, urinary function, blood, and liver. Contact your doctor if you experience any side effect not listed above.
Drug Interactions
•    The depressant effects of clonazepam are increased by sedatives, sleeping pills, narcotic pain relievers, antihistamines, alcohol, monoamine oxidase inhibitor antidepressants, tricyclic antidepressants, and other anticonvulsants.
•    Mixing valproic acid and clonazepam may produce severe petit mal seizures.
•    Smoking, phenobarbital, phenytoin, carbamazapine, and rifampin may reduce clonazepam’s effectiveness.
•    Clonazepam may increase the requirement for other anticonvulsant drugs in people who suffer from multiple types of seizures.
•    The effects of clonazepam may be prolonged when it is taken with cimetidine, contraceptive drugs, disulfiram, fluvoxamine, isoniazid, oral antifungal medications (e.g. ketoconazole), metoprolol, probenecid, propoxyphene, or propranolol.
•    Theophylline may reduce clonazepam’s sedative effects.
•    Separate antacids from y<3kwc_%1Dnazepam dose by at least 1 bZldi %prevent them from interfering with clonazepam being absorbed into the bloodstream.
•    Clonazepam may increase blood levels of digoxin and the risk of digoxin toxicity.
•    Clonazepam may decrease the effect of levodopa + carbidopa.
Food Interactions
Clonazepam is best taken on an empty stomach but may be taken with food if it upsets your stomach.
Usual Dose
Clonazepam is available in either tablets or orally disintegrating tablets, called wafers. Wafers should not be opened until immediately before the dose is to be taken. Do not push the wafer through the foil. Use dry hands to remove the wafer. The wafer will disintegrate quickly in saliva.
Seizures
Adult and Child (age 10 and over): starting dose    0.5 mg 3 times a day. The dose is increased by 0.5-1 mg every 3 days until seizures are controlled or side effects develop. The maximum daily dose is 20 mg.
Panic attacks
Adult and Child (age 10 and over): starting dose-0.25 mg twice daily. The dose is increased to 1 mg a day after 3 days. Most people do not require a higher dose.
Child (under age 10 or below 66 Ms.): starting dose-0.0220.066 mg per lb. of body weight a day in divided doses. Dosage can be increased gradually to a daily dose of 0.22-0.44 mg per lb. of body weight.
Other uses for clonazepam involve doses from 0.5-16 mg a day, depending on the condition and its severity. Clonazepam dosage must be reduced in people with impaired kidney function.
Overdosage
Overdose may cause confusion, coma, poor reflexes, sleepiness, low blood pressure, labored breathing, and other depressive effects. If the overdose is discovered within a few minutes and the victim is still conscious, it may be helpful to induce vomiting with ipecac syrup—available at any pharmacy. Overdose victims must be taken to a hospital emergency room. ALWAYS bring the prescription bottle or contai”iaT.
Special Information
Clonazepam may interfere with your ability to drive or perform other complex tasks because it can cause drowsiness and difficulty in concentrating.
Your doctor should perform periodic blood counts and liver function tests while you are taking this drug to check for possible
side effects.
Do not suddenly stop taking clonazepam—severe seizures may result. The dosage must be discontinued gradually by your doctor.
If you miss a dose by 1 hour or less, take it right away. Otherwise, skip the dose you forgot and go back to your regular schedule. Do not take a double dose.
Carry identification or wear a bracelet indicating that you have a seizure disorder for which you take clonazepam.
Special Populations
Pregnancy/Breast-feeding: Clonazepam crosses into the fetal circulation and can affect the fetus. Women who are or might be pregnant should avoid it. When the drug is considered crucial by your doctor, its potential benefits must be carefully weighed against its risks.
Some reports suggest a strong link between anticonvulsant drugs and birth defects, though most of the information pertains to phenytoin and phenobarbital, not clonazepam. It is also possible that the epileptic condition itself or genetic factors common to people with seizure disorders may figure in the higher incidence of birth defects.
Clonazepam may pass into breast milk. Nursing mothers who must take this drug should use infant formula.
Seniors: Seniors, especially those with liver or kidney disease, are more sensitive to the effects of this drug—especially dizziness and drowsiness—and may require smaller doses.