Proper Use
Drug information provided by: Merative, Micromedex®
Take this medicine exactly as directed by your doctor. Do not take more of it, do not take it more often, and do not take it for a longer time than your doctor ordered.
This medicine should come with a patient instructions leaflet. Read and follow these instructions carefully. Ask your doctor if you have any questions.
Use only the brand of this medicine that your doctor prescribed. Different brands may not work the same way.
Take this medicine without food, at the same time every night.
Swallow the capsule whole. Do not crush, break, or chew it.
To use the oral liquid:
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This medicine comes with an oral dosing syringe and a press-in bottle adapter.
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Shake the bottle for at least 30 seconds before each use.
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Press down on the child-resistant cap and twist the cap counterclockwise to open the bottle. Do not throw away the cap.
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For first time use only: Remove the seal and insert press-in bottle adapter into the bottle. Press on the bottle adapter until it is even with the top of the bottle. Once in place, it should not be removed. Replace the child-resistant cap tightly by turning clockwise and shake well again for at least 30 seconds.
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Push the plunger of the syringe completely down. Insert the syringe into the opening of the press-in bottle adapter as far as it will go.
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Carefully turn the bottle upside down. Slowly pull back the plunger to withdraw the needed amount of medicine from the bottle. Line up the end of the plunger with the prescribed dose.
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If you see air bubbles in the syringe, push in the plunger so that the liquid flows back into the bottle.
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Leave the syringe in the bottle adapter and turn the bottle upright. Carefully remove the syringe from the bottle adapter. Replace with child-resistant cap.
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Place the tip of the oral syringe in your child's mouth and toward the inside of their cheek. Slowly push the plunger all the way to give the entire dose and make sure your child has time to swallow the medicine.
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Remove the plunger from the barrel of the oral syringe. Rinse the syringe barrel with water. When it is dry, put the plunger back. Do not wash the oral syringe in the dishwasher. Do not throw away the oral syringe.
Keep using this medicine for several weeks or months. It may take a while to work in some patients because of individual differences in circadian rhythms (body clock).
Dosing
The dose of this medicine will be different for different patients. Follow your doctor's orders or the directions on the label. The following information includes only the average doses of this medicine. If your dose is different, do not change it unless your doctor tells you to do so.
The amount of medicine that you take depends on the strength of the medicine. Also, the number of doses you take each day, the time allowed between doses, and the length of time you take the medicine depend on the medical problem for which you are using the medicine.
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For oral dosage form (capsules):
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For non-24-hour sleep-wake disorder:
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Adults—20 milligrams (mg) once a day, taken 1 hour before bedtime.
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Children—Use and dose must be determined by your doctor.
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For nighttime sleep disturbances in SMS:
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Adults and children 16 years of age and older—20 milligrams (mg) once a day, taken 1 hour before bedtime.
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Children younger than 16 years of age—Use and dose must be determined by your doctor.
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For oral dosage form (suspension):
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For nighttime sleep disturbances in SMS:
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Children 3 to 15 years of age—Dose is based on body weight and must be determined by your doctor.
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Weighing more than 28 kilograms (kg)—20 milligrams (mg) once a day, taken 1 hour before bedtime.
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Weighing 28 kg or less—0.7 milligram per kilogram (mg/kg) of body weight once a day, taken 1 hour before bedtime.
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Children younger than 3 years of age—Use and dose must be determined by your doctor.
Missed Dose
If you miss a dose of this medicine, skip the missed dose and go back to your regular dosing schedule. Do not double doses.
Storage
Keep out of the reach of children.
Do not keep outdated medicine or medicine no longer needed.
Ask your healthcare professional how you should dispose of any medicine you do not use.
Store the capsule in a closed container at room temperature, away from heat, moisture, and direct light. Keep from freezing.
Keep the oral liquid in the refrigerator. Do not freeze. The 48-mL bottle can be stored for 5 weeks and the 158-mL bottle can be stored for 8 weeks after first opening the bottle.
Portions of this document last updated: March 01, 2024
Copyright: © Merative US L.P. 1973, 2024. All rights reserved. Information is for End User's use only and may not be sold, redistributed or otherwise used for commercial purposes.