TAGAMET - Discount Pharmacy Australia

TAGAMET____________________________________________________________________________________________________Consumer Medicine InformationWHAT IS IN THISLEAFLETThis leaflet answers some of thecommon questions aboutTAGAMET. It does not contain allthe available information. It does nottake the place of talking to yourdoctor or pharmacist.All medicines have risks andbenefits. Your doctor has weighedthe possible risks of takingTAGAMET against the expectedbenefits.If you have any concerns abouttaking this medicine talk to yourdoctor or pharmacist.Keep this leaflet with this medicine.You may need to read it again.WHAT TAGAMET ISUSED FORTAGAMET contains cimetidine asthe active ingredient.TAGAMET helps heal peptic ulcersand relieves the pain and discomfortthey cause. Peptic ulcers can also becalled gastric ulcers or duodenalulcers depending on where theyoccur. A gastric ulcer occurs in thestomach. A duodenal ulcer occurs inthe duodenum which is the tubeleading out of the stomach. Thesecan be caused in part by the acidmade in the stomach.TAGAMET is also used to treatreflux oesophagitis or reflux disease.This can be caused when food andacid from the stomach washes backinto the food pipe (oesophagus).This can cause a burning feeling inthe chest known as heartburn.Heartburn usually occurs after eatingor at night. TAGAMET relievesthese symptoms and helps heal anydamage to the food pipe.TAGAMET is also used to treat arare condition calledZollinger-Ellison syndrome. In thiscondition the stomach produces verylarge amounts of acid.TAGAMET belongs to a class ofmedicines called H2 antagonists orH2 blockers. It works by reducingthe amount of acid produced by yourstomach. This helps to reduce painand allows any damage to heal. H2Your doctor may have prescribedTAGAMET for another reason. Askyour doctor if you have any questionsabout why TAGAMET has beenprescribed for you.There is no evidence that TAGAMETis addictive.BEFORE TAKINGTAGAMETDO NOT TAKE TAGAMET IF:* you have had an allergic reactionto cimetidine or any of the otheringredients contained in thismedicine. The ingredients arelisted at the end of this leaflet.Cimetidine is also contained inMagicul. Signs of an allergicreaction may include an itchyskin rash, shortness of breath andswelling of the face or tongue.If you have taken cimetidinebefore and became unwell, tellyour doctor or pharmacist beforetaking the first dose.* the expiry date printed on thepack has passed.* the packaging is torn or showssigns of tampering.TAGAMET should not be given tochildren unless instructed to by yourdoctor. There is only a small amountof information available about theuse of TAGAMET in children.Do not give this medicine to anyoneelse; your doctor has prescribed itspecifically for you and yourcondition.BEFORE YOU STARTTAKING TAGAMET TELLYOUR DOCTOR IF:* you are or think you may bepregnant or if you intend tobecome pregnant. Your doctorwill discuss with you the possiblerisks and benefits of usingTAGAMET during pregnancy.* you are breast feeding. Yourbaby can absorb cimetidine frombreast milk if you are breastfeeding.* you have any kidney or liverproblems. The dose ofTAGAMET may need to beadjusted if you have kidneyproblems.* you are on a low salt diet.Effervescent TAGAMET tabletscontain sodium (salt).* you have phenylketonuria.Effervescent TAGAMET tabletscontain aspartame.TAGAMET 1

TAKING OTHER MEDICINESWITH TAGAMET:TAGAMET may affect the way othermedicines work. Your doctor orpharmacist will be able to tell youwhat to do when taking TAGAMETwith other medicines.Tell your doctor if you are taking anyother medicines or have taken othermedicines until recently. Thisincludes those medicines that youbuy without a prescription. Inparticular mention if you are takingmedicines which:* lower blood pressure or treatheart conditions (e.g.nifedipine)* control epilepsy (eg.phenytoin)* thin blood (eg. warfarin)* treat breathing problems (eg.theophylline)* relieve arthritis or other pain* treat depression or anxiety* contain chlormethiazole ormetforminAntacids should be taken at least 1hour before or after takingcimetidine. Some antacids mayreduce the absorption of cimetidine.HOW TO TAKETAGAMETFollow your doctors' instructionsabout how and when to useTAGAMET. Read the direction labelcarefully. If you have any concernsabout how to take this medicine talkto your doctor or pharmacist.HOW MUCH TO TAKETo treat an ulcer the usual dose ofTAGAMET is 800 mg each day.This can be taken once daily atbed-time or as 400 mg in themorning and 400 mg at bed-time.To prevent an ulcer from formingagain the usual dose is 400 mg atbed-time.In reflux disease, the usual adult doseis 800 mg each day. This can betaken once daily at bed-time or as400 mg in the morning and 400 mg atbed-time.For short term relief of heartburn orother symptoms of reflux disease thedose is 200mg up to four times perday. A second tablet should not betaken for at least one hour.TAGAMET does not provide instantrelief of symptoms.For other conditions the doseprescribed by your doctor may bedifferent.HOW TO TAKE ITTake the green TAGAMET tabletswith a full glass of water or anotherliquid. The 800 mg tablets can bebroken in half (along the break-line).Do not chew the tablets.Dissolve the large white effervescentTAGAMET tablets in half a glass ofwater before swallowing. The tabletwill dissolve completely.TAGAMET can be taken with orwithout food. Food does not alterthe effects of TAGAMET.Take TAGAMET at the same timeeach day. Taking your medicine atthe same time each day will give thebest effect. It will also help you toremember when to take yourmedicine.If you are having haemodialysis, thetablets should be taken after dialysis.HOW LONG TO TAKE ITIf you are taking TAGAMET forrelief of heartburn and othersymptoms of reflux disease youshould not continue treatment longerthan 2 weeks. If your symptomshave not improved with TAGAMETor continue you should see yourdoctor.If you are taking TAGAMET to healan ulcer you will need to take it for 4to 8 weeks.If you are taking TAGAMET to treatreflux disease you may need to takeit for up to 12 weeks.If you are taking TAGAMET to stopan ulcer coming back or forZollinger-Ellison syndrome, yourdoctor will let you know how longyou need to take the tablets. Yourdoctor will need to assess yourcondition regularly.Keep taking TAGAMET for as longas your doctor tells you to. Do notstop taking TAGAMET just becauseyou feel better.IF YOU FORGET TO TAKE ITIf it is almost time for your nextdose, leave out the dose you missedand take your next dose when youare meant to. Otherwise, take thedose as soon as you remember, andthen go back to taking it as younormally would.Do not try to make up for misseddoses by taking more than one doseat a time.Taking more than the prescribed dosecan increase the chance of unwantedside effects.OVERDOSEImmediately telephone your doctoror Poisons Information Centre or goto the emergency department at yournearest hospital if you or anyone elsehas taken a large amount ofTAGAMET. Do this even if thereare no signs of discomfort orpoisoning.WHILE YOU AREUSING TAGAMETTHINGS YOU MUST DO:Take TAGAMET exactly as yourdoctor has prescribed.Tell your doctor or pharmacist youare taking TAGAMET, beforestarting any other medicines. Somemedicines may affect the way othermedicines work.TAGAMET 2

Tell your doctor if you becomepregnant while taking TAGAMET.Tell your doctor immediately if youdevelop any of the following. Thesemay be complications of yourcondition:* ongoing stomach pains* unexpected weight loss* passing black motions* vomiting bloodTHINGS TO BE CAREFULOF:Be careful driving or operatingmachinery until you know howTAGAMET affects you. TAGAMETmay cause dizziness or drowsiness insome people. Make sure you knowhow you react to TAGAMET beforeyou drive a car or operate machinery.OTHER THINGS YOU CANDO TO HELP:Avoid or reduce drinking alcohol.Drinking alcohol may worsen yoursymptoms.Avoid or reduce smoking. Smokingcan affect ulcer healing.Change your eating habits. Eatsmaller meals and eat slowly. Avoidfood that causes you stomach painand discomfort.Talk to your doctor or pharmacistabout other measures that may helpyou.SIDE EFFECTSBesides their main effect, medicinesmay have some unwanted effects.Unwanted effects do not alwaysoccur in every person.Most unwanted effects followingTAGAMET are mild, and maydisappear without stoppingTAGAMET. However, some sideeffects may need medical treatment.Tell the doctor about any effectwhich is troublesome or ongoing.MILD EFFECTS* Tell your doctor if you noticeany of the following that aretroublesome or ongoing:* headache, tiredness, dizzinessor drowsiness* vomiting or feeling sick,flatulence (wind), diarrhoeaor constipation* mild skin rash, muscle achesand pains, hair loss* in men: enlarged breasts andsexual problems (these havebeen reported rarely)MORE SERIOUS EFFECTSTell your doctor immediately ifyou notice any of the following:* depressed mood or confusion* fast heart beat, slow heart beator irregular heart beat* unusual bleeding or bruising* yellowing of the skin andeyes also called jaundice* feverStop taking TAGAMET andcontact a doctor immediately or goto the emergency department ofyour nearest hospital if any of thefollowing happens:* swelling of limbs, face,mouth or throat* shortness of breath orbreathing difficulties* hives or severe skin reactionsThese reactions are signs of asevere allergic reaction toTAGAMET. Allergy toTAGAMET is rare.Other rare events that have beenreported with TAGAMET include:* inflammation of the liver,pancreas or kidney* blood disordersYou should tell your doctor orpharmacist as soon as possible ifany of these, or any other unusualevents or problems occur during orafter treatment with TAGAMET.STORAGEKeep your tablets in the original packuntil it is time to take them.Keep the pack in a cool dry place.Do not leave it in the car on a hotday. Do not store medicine in thebathroom or near a sink. Heat anddampness can destroy somemedicines.Keep all medicines out of the reachof children, such as in a lockedcupboard.If your doctor tells you to stop takingTAGAMET ask your pharmacistwhat to do with any tablets that areleft over.PRODUCTDESCRIPTIONWHAT IT LOOKS LIKETAGAMET comes as:* a round, pale green tabletcontaining 200 mg of cimetidine.The tablet is marked SKF 200 onone side.* a capsule-shaped, pale greentablet containing 400 mg ofcimetidine The tablet is markedTAGAMET on one side andSK&F 400 on the other side.* a large capsule-shaped, pale greentablet containing 800 mg ofcimetidine. The tablet is markedwith TAG 800 and a break-lineon both sides.* TAGAMET EXPRESS, which isan effervescent tablet containing800 mg of cimetidine. It is alarge round white tablet with abreak-line. The tablet is notmarked.OTHER INGREDIENTS:The pale green tablets (TAGAMET200, 400 and 800mg) contain thecolouring agents: titanium dioxideCI 77891, indigo carmine CI 73015,iron oxide black CI 77499 and ironTAGAMET 3

oxide yellow CI 77492. The tabletsall contain: maize starch, sodiumlauryl sulfate, magnesium stearate,hypromellose, propylene glycol,methylcellulose, disodium edetateand carnauba wax. The 200 and400mg tablets also contain:microcrystalline cellulose, povidone,sodium starch glycollate. The 800mgtablet also contains: carmellosecalcium, hydroxypropylcellulose.The white 800mg effervescent tabletsare flavoured with orange flavour,banana flavour, apricot flavour andare sweetened with aspartame(25mg/tablet), saccharin, and sodiumcyclamate. They also containhydroxypropylcellulose,monosodium dihydrogen citrate,macrogol 6000, sodium benzoate,citric acid and sodium bicarbonate.The sodium content of the 800 mgeffervescent tablet is 433 mg pertablet.CI = Colour Index (Society of Dyersand Colourists)TAGAMET tablets do not containsucrose, lactose, gluten, ortartrazine.Tagamet is a registered trade mark ofthe GlaxoSmithKline Group ofCompanies.Leaflet amended: 19 May 2004TAGAMET tablets Issue 4 (M)FURTHERINFORMATIONTAGAMET tablets come in thefollowing packs: 200 mg in packs of120 (AUST R 13016), 400 mg inpacks of 60 (AUST R 13017), 800mg in packs of 30 (AUST R 13054)and effervescent 800 mg in packs of30 (AUST R 50444).SPONSORGlaxoSmithKline Australia Pty Ltd1061 Mountain HighwayBoronia VIC 3155Phone (03) 9721 6000TAGAMET 4