PENTOXIFYLLINE

(pen tox I fi leen) Brand: TRENtal

What is the most significant information I must know about pentoxifylline?

• You must not use this medicine if you are allergic to pentoxifylline, or if you are allergic to caffeine or theophylline (Elixophyllin, Theo-24, Theo-Dur, Slo-Bid, Theochron, Theolair, Uniphyl, and others).

• You also must not use pentoxifylline if you are breast-feeding a child, or if you have recently had any type of bleeding in your brain or the retina of your eye.

• Till you take pentoxifylline, speak your doctor if you have angina (chest pain), a heart rhythm mess, tall blood pressure, a stomach or intestinal ulcer, kidney malady, or if you have recently had surgery.

• Speak your doctor about all another medicines you use, especially warfarin (Coumadin, Jantoven), theophylline (Elixophyllin, Theo-24, Theo-Dur, Slo-Bid, Theochron, Theolair, Uniphyl, and others), or blood pressure medication.

• Take pentoxifylline with food.

• Stop taking this medicine and get abnormal medical help if you have any of these signs of an allergic reaction: hives; difficult breathing; swelling of your person, lips, tongue, or throat.

What is pentoxifylline?

• Pentoxifylline causes changes in your blood that help improve blood flow. This also helps your blood carry oxygen to your tissues and organs.

• Pentoxifylline is used to improve blood flow and reduce determined symptoms of a condition called intermittent claudication (IN-ter-MIT-ent KLOD-ih-KAY-tion). Pentoxifylline is not a cure for this condition.

• Pentoxifylline may also be used for purposes not listed in this medicine guide.

What must I discuss with my healthcare provider till taking pentoxifylline?

• You must not use this medicine if you are allergic to pentoxifylline, or if you are allergic to caffeine or theophylline (Elixophyllin, Theo-24, Theo-Dur, Slo-Bid, Theochron, Theolair, Uniphyl, and others).

• You also must not use pentoxifylline if you have recently had any type of bleeding in your brain or the retina of your eyes.

• To create certain you can safely take pentoxifylline, speak your doctor if you have another medical conditions, especially:

· angina (chest pain);

· a heart rhythm disorder;

· tall blood pressure (hypertension);

· a stomach or intestinal ulcer;

· kidney malady; or

· if you have recently had surgery.

• FDA pregnancy category C. It is not known whether pentoxifylline will harm an unborn child. Speak your doctor if you are pregnant or plan to become pregnant while using this medication.

• Pentoxifylline can pass into breast milk and may harm a nursing child. You must not breast-feed while you are using pentoxifylline.

How must I take pentoxifylline?

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

• Pentoxifylline is generally taken 3 times every day, with meals. Follow your doctor's instructions.

• Do not crush, chew, or interrupt an extended-release tablet. Swallow it intact. Breaking the pill may reason too many of the drug to be released at one time.

• It may take up to 4 weeks till your symptoms improve. Hold using the medicine as directed and speak your doctor if your symptoms do not improve after 8 weeks of treatment.

• Store at room temperature away from moisture, heat, and light.

What happens if I miss a dose?

• Take the missed doze as soon as you remember. Skip the missed doze if it is nearly time for your following scheduled doze. Do not take extra medication to create up the missed dose.

What happens if I overdose?

• Search abnormal medical attention or call the Poison Help line at 1-800-222-1222.

• Overdose symptoms may include severe drowsiness, agitation, fever, flushing (warmth, redness, or tingly feeling), fainting, or seizure.

What must I avoid while taking pentoxifylline?

• Follow your doctor's instructions about any restrictions on food, beverages, or activity.

What are the possible side effects of pentoxifylline?

• Stop taking this medicine and get abnormal medical help if you have any of these signs of an allergic reaction: hives; difficult breathing; swelling of your person, lips, tongue, or throat.

• Call your doctor at once if you have a serious side effect such as:

· chest pain,

· pounding heartbeats or fluttering in your chest;

· feeling like you might pass out;

· red or pink urine;

· bloody, black, or tarry stools; or

· coughing up blood or vomit that looks like coffee grounds.

• Smaller serious side effects may include:

· dizziness, headache;

· blurred vision;

· flushing (warmth, redness, or tingly feeling);

· gas, bloating, upset stomach; or

· nausea, vomiting, diarrhea.

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

What another drugs will affect pentoxifylline?

• Speak your doctor about all another medicines you use, especially:

· a blood thinner such as warfarin (Coumadin, Jantoven);

· theophylline (Elixophyllin, Theo-24, Theo-Dur, Slo-Bid, Theochron, Theolair, Uniphyl, and others); or

· blood pressure medicine, especially nifedipine (Nifedical, Procardia) or captopril (Capoten, Capozide).

• This list is not complete and another drugs may interact with pentoxifylline. Speak your doctor about all medications you use. This includes prescription, over-the-counter, vitamin, and herbal commodity. Do not start a new medicine without telling your doctor.

Where can I get more information?

• Your pharmacist can provide more information about pentoxifylline.

Remember, hold this and all another medicines out of the reach of children, never share your medicines with others, and use this medicine only for the indication prescribed.

Disclaim: Each effort has been made to ensure that the information provided by Cerner Multum, Inc. ('Multum') is accurate, up-to-date, and complete, but no guarantee is made to that effect. Drug information contained herein may be time sensitive. Multum information has been compiled for use by healthcare practitioners and consumers in the United States and therefore Multum does not warrant that uses external of the United States are appropriate, unless specifically indicated otherwise. Multum's drug information does not endorse drugs, diagnose patients or recommend therapy. Multum's drug information is an informational resource designed to assist licensed healthcare practitioners in caring for their patients and/or to serve consumers viewing this service as a supplement to, and not a substitute for, the expertise, skill, knowledge and judgment of healthcare practitioners. The absence of a warning for a given drug or drug combination in no way must be construed to indicate that the drug or drug combination is safety, effective or appropriate for any given patient. Multum does not assume any responsibility for any aspect of healthcare administered with the help of information Multum provides. The information contained herein is not intended to cover all possible uses, directions, precautions, warnings, drug interactions, allergic reactions, or adverse effects. If you have questions about the drugs you are taking, check with your doctor, nurse or pharmacist.