Mercalm tablet Uses, Dosage, Side Effects, Precautions & Warnings

MERCALM, scored film-coated tablet >> Generic drug of the Therapeutic class: Allergology
active ingredients: Dimenhydrinate ,caffeine

what is Mercalm ?

This medication contains an antihistamine, dimenhydrinate and caffeine.

what is Mercalm medication used for and indication?

It is indicated for the prevention and treatment of motion sickness in adults and children over 6 years old.

PRESENTATION (S) AVAILABLE FOR MERCALM

2 presentations are available for this medication:

• 2 blister pack (s) PVC aluminum of 10 tablet (s)
• PVC aluminum blister pack (s) of 15 tablet (s)

FEATURE	DESCRIPTION
Pharmaceutical class	not communicated
Active substance (s)	for one tablet: caffeine (10.0 mg), dimenhydrinate (50.0 mg)
General medicine	no
Pharmaceutical form	divisible coated tablet
Route (s) of administration	oral
Selling price	unregulated price
Social security reimbursement rate	0%
Laboratory (s)	Laboratory (s) manufacturer Mercalm
Conditions of issue	available without prescription

Mercalm Dosage

RESERVED FOR ADULTS AND CHILDREN OVER 6 YEARS OLD.

Swallow the tablets with a little water ½ hour before departure. If the symptoms persist, renew the intake at an interval of more than 6 hours. Do not exceed 3 doses per day.

The usual dosage is:

• Adult and child over 15 years: 1 to 2 tablets per dose, without exceeding 6 tablets per day.
• Child from 6 to 15 years old: 1/2 to 1 tablet per dose, without exceeding 3 tablets per day.

Mercalm Contraindications

Never take MERCALM, scored film-coated tablet in the following cases:

• child under 6 due to the presence of caffeine,
• certain forms of glaucoma (increased pressure in the eye),
• difficulty urinating from prostate or other causes,
• known allergy to antihistamines.

This medication MUST NOT BE USED GENERALLY, unless your doctor advises otherwise, in case of breast-feeding and in case of treatment with enoxacin.

IN CASE OF DOUBT, IT IS ESSENTIAL TO ASK YOUR DOCTOR OR YOUR PHARMACIST FOR THE ADVICE.

How To Take Mercalm ?

Administration mode

• Oral route.
• The pills must be swallowed with a glass of water.
• In children, in order to facilitate the intake, it is possible to crush the ½ or the tablet in a glass of sugar water.

how does Mercalm work?

ANTINAUPATHIC

(N: Central nervous system)

Dimenhydrinate : H1 antihistamine, with an ethanolamine structure, which is characterized by:

• A significant sedative effect at normal doses of histamine origin and central adrenergic blocking;
• Anticholinergic effect causing peripheral adverse effects, put to use in the prevention and treatment of motion sickness;
• An adrenergic blocking effect device, which can resound in hemodynamically (risk of orthostatic hypotension).

Antihistamines have in common the property of opposing, by more or less reversible competitive antagonism, the effects of histamine in particular on the skin, the bronchi, the intestine and the vessels.

How To Store Mercalm ?

• Keep this medication out of the sight and reach of children.
• Do not use this medicine after the expiry date which is stated on the package. The expiration date refers to the first day of that month.
• Do not use this medicine if you notice any visible signs of deterioration.
• Do not throw away any medicines via a wastewater treatment plant or with household waste. Ask your pharmacist how to throw away the medicines you no longer use. These measures will help protect the environment.

Mercalm Side Effects

Like all medicines, MERCALM, film-coated tablet can cause side effects, although not everybody gets them.

• Some side effects require IMMEDIATELY STOPPING TREATMENT AND TELL A DOCTOR.
  • Allergic reactions:
    • rash type (erythema, eczema, purpura, urticaria);
    • angioedema (hives with sudden swelling of the face and neck which can cause difficulty in breathing);
    • anaphylactic shock.

• Significant drop in white blood cells in the blood, which may be manifested by the onset or resurgence of a fever with or without signs of infection.
• Abnormal decrease in platelets in the blood which may result in bleeding from the nose or gums.
• Other side effects may occur, such as:

• Drowsiness, decreased vigilance.
• Impaired memory or concentration, dizziness (more frequent in the elderly), balance disturbances.
• Motor incoordination, tremors.
• Confusion, hallucinations.
• Dry mouth, visual disturbances, retention of urine, constipation, palpitations, drop in blood pressure.
• Possibility of excitement, insomnia and palpitations.
• Very rare cases of abnormal movements of the head and neck in children.

If you notice any side effects not listed in this leaflet, or if any side effects get serious, please tell your doctor or pharmacist.

Keep out of the reach and sight of children.

Mercalm Interactions

Not recommended associations

Alcohol

• Alcohol enhancement of the sedative effect of H1 antihistamines. Impaired vigilance can make driving and using machines dangerous.
• Avoid taking alcoholic beverages and drugs containing alcohol.

Enoxacin

• Significant increase in caffeine levels in the body which can lead to excitement and hallucinations (decrease in hepatic caffeine catabolism).

Associations to take into account

• · Related to the presence of dimenhydrinate.

Other central nervous system depressants: morphine derivatives (analgesics, cough suppressants and substitution treatments); benzodiazepines; barbiturates; anxiolytics other than benzodiazepines; hypnotics; neuroleptics; sedative antidepressants; central antihypertensive drugs; baclofen; thalidomide.

• Increase in central depression. Impaired vigilance can make driving and using machines dangerous.

Atropine and other atropine substances (imipramine antidepressants, antiparkinsonian anticholinergics, atropine antispasmodics, disopyramide, phenothiazine neuroleptics)

• Addition of atropine side effects such as urinary retention, constipation, dry mouth.
• · Linked to the presence of caffeine.

Ciprofloxacin, norfloxacin

• Significant increase in caffeine levels in the body (decrease in hepatic caffeine catabolism).
• Not applicable.

Effects on ability to Drive and use machines

• The drowsiness and decreased alertness associated with the use of this medication can be severe and make driving and using machines dangerous .
• This phenomenon is accentuated by the intake of alcoholic drinks or drugs containing alcohol, which should therefore be avoided .

Warnings and Precautions

Special warnings

This medicine contains caffeine (10 mg per tablet) which may cause excitement, insomnia and palpitations, especially in children ( ). Avoid association with certain foods also containing it (cola-based drink, coffee, tea, chocolate).

This medicine contains lactose. Its use is not recommended in patients with lactose intolerance (a rare hereditary disease).

Precautions for use

As a precaution, do not use this medication in cases of bronchial asthma.

In case of long-term disease of the liver or kidneys, CONSULT YOUR DOCTOR so that he can adjust the dosage.

The intake of this medication requires MEDICAL ADVICE in the elderly:

• predisposed to constipation, dizziness or drowsiness;
• with prostate problems.

TELL YOUR DOCTOR before taking this antihistamine.

Due to the possibility of caffeine-related insomnia, it is best to avoid taking this medication after 4 p.m.

IN CASE OF DOUBT, DO NOT HESITATE TO ASK FOR THE ADVICE OF YOUR DOCTOR OR YOUR PHARMACIST.

PREGNANCY & BREAST-FEEDING & FERTILITY

The action to be taken during pregnancy and lactation is due to the presence of dimenhydrinate.

Pregnancy

• Malformation aspect (Q1)
  •  In animals, experimental studies have not demonstrated a teratogenic effect of dimenhydrinate.
  • In humans, the risk of malformation from H1 antihistamines is unevenly assessed.
• Foetotoxic Aspect (2nd and 3rd quarters):
  • In newborns of mothers treated long-term with high doses of an anticholinergic antihistamine, digestive signs linked to atropine properties have rarely been described (abdominal distension, meconium ileus, delay in the release of meconium, difficulty in food route, tachycardias, neurological disorders …).
  • Consequently , the teratogenic risk, if any, appears to be low. It is necessary to carefully reassess the indication during pregnancy, and, if possible, to try to limit the duration of the prescription.
  • If the administration of this drug took place at the end of pregnancy, it seems justified to observe a period of monitoring of the neurological and digestive functions of the newborn.

Feeding with milk

• The use of this medicine is not recommended during lactation (dimenhydrinate passes into breast milk).

What happens if I overdose from Mercalm ?

Symptoms of Dimenhydrinate Overdose:

• Convulsions (especially in infants and children);
• Impaired consciousness, coma.

Symptomatic treatment in a specialized environment.

What should I do if I miss a dose?

If you forget to take MERCALM, scored film-coated tablet

• Not applicable
• Not applicable
• Not applicable
• Not applicable
• Not applicable

What happens if you stop taking Mercalm ?

If you stop taking MERCALM, scored film-coated tablet

• Not applicable
• Not applicable
• Not applicable
• Not applicable
• Not applicable

If you have any further questions about the use of this medicine, ask your doctor, pharmacist or nurse for more information.

What is  Forms and Composition ?

Appearance and shape

• Lack of information in the MA.
• Blister pack (PVC / Aluminum) of 15 tablets.

WHAT MERCALM, FILM-COATED TABLETS LOOK LIKE AND CONTENTS OF THE OUTER CARTON

• This medication is in the form of a scored film-coated tablet. Box of 15.

WHAT MERCALM CONTAINS, SCORED FILM-COATED TABLETS  

The active substances are:

• Dimenhydrinate ….. 50 mg
• Caffeine .. …… 10 mg

For a scored film-coated tablet

The other ingredients are:

• Lactose monohydrate, microcrystalline cellulose, modified corn starch, colloidal anhydrous silica, magnesium stearate.
• Coating: hypromellose 15 m Pa.s, lactose monohydrate, macrogol 4000, titanium dioxide (E171), macrogol 6000.

NOT’s

Edrug-online contains comprehensive and detailed information about drugs available in the medical field, and is divided into four sections:

general information:

• Includes a general description of the drug, its use, brand names, FAQs, and relevant news and articles

Additional information:

• General explanation about dealing with the medicine: how to take the medicine, the doses and times of it, the start and duration of its effectiveness, the recommended diet during the period of taking the medicine, the method of storage and storage, recommendations in cases for forgetting the dose and instructions to stop taking the drug and take additional doses.

Special warnings:

• For pregnant and breastfeeding women, the elderly, boys and drivers, and use before surgery.

Side effects:

• It treats possible side effects and drug interactions that require attention and its effect on continuous use.
• The information contained in this medicine is based on medical literature, but it is not a substitute for consulting a doctor.