drug-medicine: deseril

Information for Patients

What you need to know about Deseril Tablets

Please read this leaflet carefully before you start to take your medicine. It contains important information.

What’s in your medicine?

Each Deseril Tablet contains 1.33mg methysergide maleate BP (equivalent to 1mg methysergide base). They contain the following inactive ingredients: Maleic acid, gelatin, stearic acid, talc, maize starch, lactose, gum acacia, sugar, titanium dioxide (E171), colloidal anhydrous silica, carnauba wax and edible black ink (consisting of Shellac, black iron oxide, ethanol and isopropanol).

Deseril comes in packs of 60 tablets.

Methysergide belongs to a group of medicines called antimigraine drugs.

What’s this medicine used for?

Deseril can be used to reduce the frequency and severity of your migraine attacks or your vascular headaches. Deseril will not stop a headache once it has started. It works by blocking the activation of special receptors in your body called 5HT receptors. The activation of these 5HT receptors can lead to the development of migraine or other types of vascular headache. By stopping the activation of these receptors Deseril can therefore be used to reduce the frequency and severity of migraine attacks and can stop other types of vascular headaches from beginning.

Deseril can also be used to control diarrhoea in carcinoid syndrome. People with this disease have large amounts of a substance called 5HT in their blood, which causes the diarrhoea. Deseril blocks this effect of 5HT.

Before starting treatment

If the answer to any of these questions is YES, tell your doctor.

Have you ever had a rash or other possible allergic reaction to any of the ingredients in Deseril (listed in ‘What’s in your medicine’)?
Are you taking any other medicines (either bought or prescribed)? Some medicines can interfere with your treatment, so please check with your doctor or pharmacist before taking any medicines, especially:
Other medicines for the treatment or prevention of migraine (eg ergotamine);
Macrolide antibiotics (for example erythromycin and clarithromycin);
Protease inhibitors (such as ritonavir or indinavir for HIV);
Azole antifungals (such as ketoconazole or itraconazole);
Cimetidine (used for stomach ulcers);
Medicines which may increase your blood pressure (eg ephedrine, phenylephrine, pseudoephedrine or triptans).
Are you pregnant, planning to become pregnant or breast feeding? If you do become pregnant whilst taking Deseril tell your doctor.
Do you have high blood pressure?
Do you suffer from, or have you ever suffered from, heart or circulation problems?
Do you have kidney, liver or lung problems, or have you ever had any disease which may have affected your kidney, liver or lungs?
Do you have any urinary disorders?
Have you been told that you have collagen disease?
Do you have a severe bacterial infection?
Have you ever had a stomach ulcer?
Have you ever suffered from severe weight loss or malnutrition?
Do you have any swollen, tender or painful areas on your legs?

Other special warnings

Tell your doctor immediately if you develop difficulties in passing water, shortness of breath, pains in your chest or loin, or cold or numb hands or feet.
Whilst you are taking Deseril your doctor will want you to have regular check-ups.
Do not suddenly stop taking Deseril unless your doctor specifically tells you to.
Deseril is not recommended for children.
If you have dizziness, drowsiness or disturbances in vision after treatment with Deseril, do not drive or work with machinery until this effect has worn off.

Treatment with Deseril

Your doctor will decide when and how to treat you with Deseril. You should take your tablets during a meal.

The usual dosage for migraine or cluster headaches is 1 or 2 tablets two or three times a day (a total of 2 to 6 tablets a day). You should start with one tablet at bedtime; your doctor will alter your dose until the migraines are controlled satisfactorily. After six months treatment, your doctor will arrange one month with no treatment to assess your migraines. The dosage will be reduced over two to three weeks.

The usual dose for carcinoid syndrome is up to 20 tablets a day.

If you are not sure how many tablets to take, ask your doctor or pharmacist. Do not stop taking Deseril suddenly; ask your doctor first.

What to do if an overdose is taken

If you (or someone else) accidentally takes too much of your medicine you should tell your doctor immediately or go to your nearest casualty department. Show any left over medicines or the empty packet to the doctor.

What to do if you miss a dose

If you miss a dose, take another as soon as you remember, unless it is almost time for your next dose. Then go on as before. DO NOT take a double dose.

After treatment with Deseril

Like all medicines, Deseril can sometimes cause unwanted effects in some people.

Effects that may occur include:

feeling or being sick, drowsiness, dizziness, stomach pains and heartburn. More rarely, retention of fluid in the tissues which may lead to swelling, difficulty in sleeping, weight gain, loss of hair, leg cramps and skin rashes have also been reported. In isolated instances, mental and behavioural changes have also occurred.

If these effects are severe or last for more than a few days, tell your doctor.

If you get any of the following, tell your doctor at once.

Pain in your legs or arms.
An unexpected change in the amount of water you pass.
Chest pains.
Irregular heart beat.
Difficulty in breathing.
Numb or cold limbs.
Severe abdominal pain.
Loss of vision.

If your medicine upsets you in any other way, tell your doctor.

Storing your medicine

The expiry date for this medicine is printed on the label. Do not use this medicine after this date.

Keep all medicines in a safe place where children cannot reach them. If your doctor decides to stop your treatment, return any unused medicine to the pharmacist. Only keep it if your doctor tells you to.

REMEMBER: This medicine is only for you. Only a doctor can prescribe it for you. Never give it to someone else. It may harm them even if they have the same symptoms as you.

The information in this leaflet applies only to Deseril. If you have any questions or are unsure about anything, ask your doctor or pharmacist.

Medicine: deseril