Patient Information Leaflet

What you should know about Heminevrin® Capsules

clomethiazole

Please read this leaflet carefully before you start to take your medicine.

It has been designed to help you understand your medicine more fully and applies only to Heminevrin Capsules. This leaflet does not contain the complete information about your medicine so if you have any questions or are not sure about anything, ask your doctor or pharmacist (chemist). Remember this medicine is only for you. Only a doctor can prescribe it. Never give it to anyone else even if their symptoms are similar to yours. Heminevrin Capsules are soft and greyish-brown in colour. Each capsule contains 192 mg of the active ingredient clomethiazole and coconut oil. The capsules themselves are made of gelatin, glycerin, titanium dioxide, sorbitol, mannitol, non-hydrogenated starch hydrolysate and brown iron oxide E172. They are available in bottles of 60 capsules.

Heminevrin Capsules have a calming/ sedative effect on the nervous system.

What is your medicine used for?

It has several uses: it can be used to help stop restlessness and agitation and to help you if you are unable to sleep. It can also be used in certain cases to help with alcohol withdrawal problems.

Before taking your medicine

Heminevrin Capsules are only for adults and should not be taken by children. Make sure you have told your doctor about any other medicines you are taking including those you have bought without a prescription.

Please read the following questions carefully. They are being asked to help check the medicine is suitable for you to take. If the answer to any of these questions is yes, you should talk to your doctor before taking this medicine.

• Is it usual for you to experience difficulty in breathing?
• Do you suffer from sleep apnoea syndrome (interrupted breathing when you are asleep)?
• Are you receiving any treatment for high blood pressure, low blood glucose or anxiety?
• Have you been told in the past that you have a large amount of liver damage or kidney disease?
• Are you taking any other medicines that contain the drugs cimetidine (which may be given for problems such as stomach ulcers or heartburn) or carbamazepine (which may be used to treat epilepsy or a painful condition of the face called trigeminal neuralgia or to help control mood swings)?
• Have you ever had an allergic reaction to these capsules or any of the ingredients?

You must tell your doctor if you know you are pregnant or think you may be pregnant or planning to become pregnant or if you are breast-feeding.

This medicine may cause drowsiness so you should avoid driving or operating machinery.

Note: If Heminevrin Capsules are to be given to you to help with alcohol problems, you must tell your doctor if you have recently had a drink containing alcohol.

One capsule of Heminevrin Capsules contains 30 mg of sorbitol. When taken according to the dosage recommendations each dose supplies up to 120 mg of sorbitol.

Unsuitable in hereditary fructose intolerance.

Can cause stomach upset and diarrhoea.

 

Taking your medicine

Heminevrin Capsules are only for adults and should not be taken by children. It is important to take your medicine at the times you were told by your doctor. The instructions on the label will remind you of what the doctor said. It will tell you how many capsules to take and how often. Do not take more than you have been told. If you have been given this medicine to help you sleep at night, the usual dose is 1-2 capsules before bed.

The dose may be higher, 1 capsule 3 times a day if you have been given it to stop you feeling restless or agitated. If you are taking these capsules to help you withdraw from alcohol, your dosage will start high, perhaps 2-4 capsules every few hours but then it will gradually be reduced by your doctor.

You should not take Heminevrin Capsules for longer than the doctor has advised which is usually not more than 9 days.

After taking your medicine

Some side effects that may occur with Heminevrin Capsules are:

• tingling or blocked nose
• sore eyes and headache
• runny nose and chest phlegm
• rash which may be itchy
• stomach upset
• abnormal blood test of the liver
• high doses may make you feel drowsy, especially if you are elderly
• hangover may occur in the elderly
• rarely over excitement or confusion may occur
• rarely a severe allergic reaction may occur.

If you experience any of these, or notice any other unusual or unexpected symptoms, you should tell your doctor or pharmacist (chemist).

Storing your medicine

Do not take any capsules after the expiry date given on the packaging. Keep your medicine in the original container. Store your medicine carefully: keep out of the reach of children. Your medicine should be stored in the original container and not above 25°C (room temperature).

Remember to return any unused medicine to your pharmacist (chemist).