Precautions
Drug information provided by: Merative, Micromedex®
It is very important that your doctor check your progress at regular visits, to make sure that this medicine is working properly. Blood and urine tests may be needed to check for unwanted effects.
Using this medicine while you are pregnant can harm your unborn baby. Use an effective form of birth control to keep from getting pregnant. If you think you have become pregnant while using this medicine, tell your doctor right away.
You must have a negative pregnancy test before you will be allowed to take this medicine. You will also be required to have a pregnancy test every month during your treatment. If you miss a period while you are using this medicine, tell your doctor right away.
Do not use this medicine if you have used an MAO inhibitor (MAOI) such as Eldepryl®, Marplan®, Nardil®, or Parnate® within the past 14 days. Using these medicines together may cause serious unwanted effects.
This medicine may be habit-forming. If you think this medicine is not working properly after you have taken it for a few weeks, do not increase the dose. Instead, check with your doctor.
This medicine may increase your heart rate. Check with your doctor right away if you have a racing heartbeat while at rest after taking this medicine.
This medicine may cause some people to be agitated, irritable, or display other abnormal behaviors. It may also cause some people to have suicidal thoughts and tendencies or to become more depressed. If you or your caregiver notice any of these side effects, tell your doctor right away.
Check with your doctor immediately if you have a decrease in vision, blurred vision, change in near or distance vision, or pain around the eyes during and after treatment with this medicine. Your doctor may want you to have your eyes checked by an eye doctor.
This medicine may cause some people to become dizzy, drowsy, or have trouble in thinking or speaking. Make sure you know how you react to this medicine before you drive, use machines, or do anything else that could be dangerous if you are not alert, well-coordinated, or able to think or see well.
This medicine may cause nausea, muscle tremors, fast breathing, problems eating, fast heartbeat, restlessness, and abdominal or stomach pain. Tell your doctor right away if you have any of these symptoms. This may be a sign that you may be having a metabolic acidosis (too much acid in the blood).
This medicine may decrease the density of bones, which can make your bones weak. Talk with your doctor if you have any concerns about this.
This medicine may cause slow growth. For children, the doctor will need to keep track of height and weight to make sure that the child is growing properly.
For diabetic patients: This medicine may affect blood sugar levels. If you notice a change in the results of your blood or urine sugar tests or if you have any questions, check with your doctor.
For patients with high blood pressure: This medicine may increase risk of lowering your blood pressure. If you feel dizzy, faint, or lightheaded after taking this medicine, check with your doctor.
This medicine will add to the effects of alcohol and other CNS depressants (medicines that make you drowsy or less alert). Some examples of CNS depressants are antihistamines or medicine for hay fever, other allergies, or colds, prescription pain medicines, or sleep medicines. Check with your doctor before taking any of the above while you are using this medicine.
Do not suddenly stop taking this medicine without first checking with your doctor. Stopping the medicine suddenly may cause your seizures to return or to occur more often. Your doctor may want you to gradually reduce the amount you are using before stopping completely.
Check with your doctor right away if you have sudden back pain, stomach pain, pain while urinating, or bloody or dark urine. These may be symptoms of kidney stones.
This medicine may make you sweat less, causing your body temperature to increase. Use extra care not to become overheated during exercise or hot weather while you are taking this medicine. Overheating may result in heat stroke. Also, hot baths or saunas may make you dizzy or faint while you are taking this medicine.
Check with your doctor right away if you have decreased urine, dry mouth, irregular heartbeat, increased thirst, loss of appetite, mood changes, muscle pain or cramps, nausea or vomiting, numbness or tingling in the hands, feet, or lips, seizures, trouble breathing, or unusual tiredness or weakness. These may be symptoms of hypokalemia.
Serious skin reactions (eg, Stevens-Johnson syndrome, toxic epidermal necrolysis) can occur with this medicine. Check with your doctor right away if you have blistering, peeling, or loosening of the skin, chills, cough, diarrhea, itching, joint or muscle pain, red irritated eyes, red skin lesions, often with a purple center, sore throat, sores, ulcers, or white spots in the mouth or on the lips, or unusual tiredness or weakness with this medicine.
This medicine may cause your body temperature to go down especially when taking valproic acid, which is a medicine to control seizures. You may have tiredness, weakness, confusion, and abnormal heartbeat and breathing. Tell your doctor right away if you feel any of these side effects.
Birth control pills (containing estrogen) may not work properly if you take them while you are taking this medicine. Unplanned pregnancies may occur. You should use a different or additional means of birth control while you are using this medicine. If you have any questions about this, check with your doctor or pharmacist.
Check with your doctor right away if you are having unusual drowsiness, dullness, tiredness, weakness, or feelings of sluggishness, mental depression or anxiety, nightmares or unusually vivid dreams, or vomiting. These may be symptoms of a serious condition called hyperammonemic encephalopathy.
Do not take other medicines unless they have been discussed with your doctor. This includes prescription or nonprescription (over-the-counter [OTC]) medicines and herbal or vitamin supplements (including any weight loss products).
Portions of this document last updated: April 01, 2024
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