RUFINAMIDE
(roo FIN a mide) Brand: Banzel
What is the most significant information I must know about rufinamide?
• You must not use this medicine if you are allergic to rufinamide, or if you have a genetic heart rhythm mess called "Short QT syndrome."
• Till taking rufinamide, speak your doctor if you have heart malady, liver malady, kidney malady (or if you are on dialysis), or a history of depression, mental diseases, or suicidal thoughts or actions.
• It is not known whether rufinamide will harm an unborn child, but having a seizure during pregnancy could harm both the mother and the child. Speak your doctor right away if you become pregnant while taking rufinamide for seizures. Do not start or stop taking rufinamide during pregnancy without your doctor's advice.
• You may have thoughts about suicide while taking this medicine. Your doctor will need to check you at regular visits. Do not miss any scheduled appointments.
• Report any new or worsening symptoms to your doctor, such as: mood or behavior changes, depression, anxiety, panic attacks, trouble sleeping, or if you feel impulsive, agitated, hostile, aggressive, restless, irritable, hyperactive, talkative, or have thoughts about suicide or hurting yourself.
• Do not stop using rufinamide without first talking to your doctor, even if you feel beautiful. You may have heighten seizures if you stop using rufinamide suddenly. You may need to use smaller and smaller till you stop the medicine completely.
• Contact your doctor if your seizures get worse or you have them more often while taking rufinamide.
What is rufinamide?
• Rufinamide is an anti-epileptic medicine, also called an anticonvulsant.
• Rufinamide is used in combination with another medications to treat seizures caused by Lennox-Gastaut syndrome, a severe form of childhood epilepsy that also causes developmental and behavior problems.
• Rufinamide may also be used for purposes not listed in this medicine guide.
What must I discuss with my healthcare provider till taking rufinamide?
• You must not use this medicine if you are allergic to rufinamide, or if you have a genetic heart rhythm mess called "Short QT syndrome."
• To create certain you can safely take rufinamide, speak your doctor if you have any of these another conditions:
· liver disease;
· kidney malady (or if you are on dialysis); or
· a history of depression, mental diseases, or suicidal thoughts or actions.
• You may have thoughts about suicide while taking this medicine. Speak your doctor if you have new or worsening depression or suicidal thoughts during the first different months of treatment, or whenever your doze is changed.
• Your family or another caregivers must also be alert to changes in your mood or symptoms. Your doctor will need to check you at regular visits. Do not miss any scheduled appointments.
• FDA pregnancy category C. It is not known whether rufinamide will harm an unborn child, but having a seizure during pregnancy could harm both mother and child. Do not start taking rufinamide without telling your doctor if you are pregnant or planning to become pregnant. If you become pregnant while taking rufinamide, do not stop taking the medication without your doctor's advice.
• Seizure control is very significant during pregnancy. The benefit of preventing seizures may outweigh any risks posed by taking rufinamide. Follow your doctor's instructions about taking rufinamide while you are pregnant.
• If you are pregnant, your name may be listed on a pregnancy registry. This is to track the outcome of the pregnancy and to estimate any effects of rufinamide on the baby.
• Rufinamide can create birth control pills smaller effective. Ask your doctor about using a non hormone method of birth control (such as a condom, diaphragm, spermicide) to prevent pregnancy while taking rufinamide.
• Rufinamide can pass into breast milk and may harm a nursing child. You must not breast-feed while you are using rufinamide.
• Rufinamide must not be given to a baby younger than 4 years old.
How must I take rufinamide?
• 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.
• Your doctor may occasionally change your doze to create certain you get the excellent results.
• Take rufinamide with food.
• The rufinamide tablet may be swallowed intact, crushed, or cut in half.
• Shake the oral suspension (liquid) well just till you measure a doze. Measure the liquid with the dosing syringe provided, or with a particular dose-measuring spoon or medication cup. Do not use a regular table spoon to measure the liquid. If you do not have a dosing syringe or dose-measuring device, ask your pharmacist for one.
• Do not stop using rufinamide without first talking to your doctor, even if you feel beautiful. You may have heighten seizures if you stop using rufinamide suddenly. You may need to use smaller and smaller till you stop the medicine completely.
• Wear a medical alert tag or carry an ID card stating that you take rufinamide. Any medical care provider who treats you must know that you take seizure medication.
• Use rufinamide regularly to get the most benefit. Get your prescription refilled till you run out of medication completely. Contact your doctor if your seizures get worse or you have them more often while taking rufinamide.
• Store at room temperature away from moisture and heat. Hold the bottle tightly closed when not in use.
• Store the liquid medication in an upright position. Throw away any unused liquid after 90 days.
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.
What must I avoid while taking rufinamide?
• Drinking alcohol can magnify determined side effects of rufinamide.
• This medicine may reason blurred vision and may impair your thinking or reactions. Be careful if you drive or do anything that requires you to be alert and able to see clearly.
What are the possible side effects of rufinamide?
• 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.
• Message any new or worsening symptoms to your doctor, such as: mood or behavior changes, depression, anxiety, panic attacks, trouble sleeping, or if you feel impulsive, agitated, hostile, aggressive, restless, irritable, hyperactive, talkative, or have thoughts about suicide or hurting yourself.
• Stop using rufinamide and call your doctor at once if you have any of these serious side effects:
· fever, swollen glands, body aches, flu symptoms, feeling very weak or tired;
· painful sores in or near your eyes or mouth, sore throat, trouble swallowing;
· loss of balance or coordination, trouble walking;
· skin rash, light bruising or bleeding, severe tingling, numbness, pain, severe muscle pain or weakness;
· upper stomach pain, loss of appetite, dark urine, jaundice (yellowing of the skin or eyes);
· chest pain, irregular heart rhythm, feeling short of breath;
· confusion, nausea and vomiting, swelling, rapid weight gain;
· lower back pain, bloody urine, urinating smaller than normal;
· pale skin, feeling light-headed or short of breath, rapid heart course, trouble concentrating;
· new or worsening cough with fever, trouble breathing; or
· worsening of seizures.
• Smaller serious side effects may include:
· headache;
· dizziness, drowsiness;
· heighten or decreased appetite;
· nausea, vomiting;
· stuffy nose, sinus pain; or
· blurred vision.
• 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.
What another drugs will affect rufinamide?
• Till using rufinamide, speak your doctor if you regularly use another medicines that create you sleepy (such as cool or allergy medication, sedatives, narcotic pain medication, sleeping pills, muscle relaxers, and medication for depression or anxiety). They can add to sleepiness caused by rufinamide.
• Speak your doctor about all another seizure medications you use, especially:
· carbamazepine (Carbatrol, Equetro, Tegretol);
· phenobarbital (Luminal, Solfoton);
· phenytoin (Dilantin);
· primidone (Mysoline); or
· valproic acid (Depakene, Stavzor).
• This list is not complete and another drugs may interact with rufinamide. 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 rufinamide.
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.
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