Patient Information Leaflet

Kemadrin® tablets 5 mg

procyclidine hydrochloride

Please read this leaflet carefully before taking this medicine. Keep it safe as you may want to read it again. This leaflet contains important information about your Kemadrin tablets.

If you want to know more about your illness or your medicine, ask your pharmacist or doctor.

What is in your Kemadrin tablets?

Kemadrin tablets are white with a single score line and the marking "WELLCOME S3A" on the same side. There are no markings on the other side. Each tablet contains 5 mg of the active ingredient, procyclidine hydrochloride.

There are also some other ingredients: lactose, sodium starch glycollate, povidone and magnesium stearate. The sodium content of each tablet is approximately 0.5 - 0.7 mg.

Kemadrin comes in bottles of 100 or 500 tablets.

What are Kemadrin tablets for?

Kemadrin belongs to a group of medicines called anticholinergics.

Anticholinergics block the effects of a substance called acetylcholine in your body.

Kemadrin tablets are used to treat and relieve the symptoms of Parkinson’s disease such as stiff muscles, paralysis, tremor, difficulties with speech, writing and walking, over production of saliva and dribbling, sweating, uncontrolled eye movements and depression.

Some tranquillisers have side effects like the symptoms of Parkinson’s disease and they can also cause restlessness and abnormal head and body movements. Kemadrin is also sometimes used to control these side effects.

Who can take Kemadrin tablets?

This medicine suits most people, but there are a few people for whom it may not be suitable. Ask yourself these questions to check whether Kemadrin is right for you:

• Have you ever had an allergy (rash, itching, shortness of breath) to Kemadrin, procyclidine or any of the tablet ingredients listed above?
• Do you experience uncontrolled movements of the face and tongue (tardive dyskinesia)?
• Are you pregnant, trying to become pregnant or breast-feeding?
• Do you suffer from glaucoma (eye disease caused by too much pressure within the eye)?
• If you are a man, do you suffer from an enlarged prostate gland?
• Do you often suffer from stomach cramps, abdominal pains or constipation?
• Do you suffer from kidney or liver disease?
• Are you taking or likely to be taking medicines for?
  • mental health diseases (Alzheimer’s disease, dementia, depression, schizophrenia), for example tacrine, memantine, amitryptiline, monoamine oxidase inhibitors, paroxetine, tricyclic and related antidepressants, clozapine, haloperidol, phenothiazines and thioridazine
  • the treatment of Parkinson’s disease, for example levodopa and amantadine
  • heart complaints (including tablets that dissolve under the tongue) for example disopyramide, quinidine and nitrate tablets
  • nausea, sickness and indigestion such as cisapride, domperidone and metoclopramide
  • treating hayfever and allergies for example antihistamines
  • treating pain, in particular nefopam
  • treating fungal infections, in particular ketoconazole.

If you are not sure whether you are taking any of these medicines, ask your pharmacist.

If you answer “yes” to any of the questions above, do not take Kemadrin. Tell your doctor or pharmacist before taking the medicine.

Also tell your doctor if you are taking any other medicines, including medicines you buy without a prescription from a pharmacy, supermarket or health food shop.

Kemadrin can cause blurred vision and at higher doses, dizziness, confusion and hallucinations may occur. If you are affected in this way, do not drive or operate machinery while you are taking Kemadrin tablets.

How do you take Kemadrin tablets?

It is important to take your medicine as directed. The label on the pack will tell you how many tablets to take and how often to take them. If the label does not say or if you are not sure, ask your doctor or pharmacist.

Adults: Your doctor will decide on a dose of Kemadrin which is right for you. The usual starting dose is half a tablet three times a day (the tablet may be cut or broken in half along the line scored on one side of the tablet). Your doctor may then increase this by half or 1 tablet per day every two or three days, until the desired effect is seen. This is known as the maintenance dose. The total daily maintenance dose for Parkinson's disease is usually three to six tablets. However, in certain cases your doctor may decide to prescribe more (up to a maximum of 12 tablets).

Although the dose is usually taken three times a day, your doctor may ask you to take a fourth dose before bedtime.

 

Kemadrin can be used to control the side effects caused by another drug, including those similar to the symptoms of Parkinson's disease. In this case, the usual starting dose is half a tablet three times a day. Your doctor may then increase this by half a tablet per day until the desired effect is seen. The total daily maintenance dose is usually two to six tablets. Your doctor may decide to stop your Kemadrin after 3 or 4 months to see if the side effects return.

In older people your doctor may decide to use a lower dose than the above.

Kemadrin tablets are not usually recommended for use in children. However, in certain cases your doctor may decide that Kemadrin is required.

Take the tablets with a little water to make swallowing easier.

If you forget to take a dose, take another one as soon as you remember and then go on as before.

Do not stop taking your Kemadrin tablets unless your doctor tells you to. Treatment with Kemadrin should not be stopped suddenly.

If you take too many tablets or someone else takes your medicine by mistake, tell your doctor at once or contact your nearest hospital accident and emergency department.

Do Kemadrin tablets have side effects?

Kemadrin tablets may cause the following side effects in some people:

• a dry mouth
• nausea (feeling sick) or vomiting (being sick)
• blurred vision
• gingivitis (inflammation of the gum)
• constipation
• nervousness
• dizziness
• skin rash
• feeling confused
• reduced concentration or memory
• hearing unexpected noises or seeing unexpected sights (hallucinations)
• anxiety
• agitation (feeling irritable)
• difficulty in passing water

Please also note that:

• if you are taking tranquillisers, unusual body movements, particularly of your hands, arms and legs may occur. If you are taking Kemadrin to control these side effects, it has been reported, on rare occasions, that it could worsen these symptoms. If you find that this is happening, tell your doctor who may decide to change your tranquilliser dosage.

Tell your doctor if you become more unwell while taking Kemadrin or if you notice any side effects from your medicine, even if they are not mentioned here.

Looking after your Kemadrin tablets

Store your tablets in a safe place below 25°C. Keep out of the reach of children.

Do not take any tablets after the end of the month date shown on the pack. Return any unused tablets to your pharmacist.

Remember: This medicine is for you. Never give it to anyone else. It may harm them even if their symptoms are the same as yours.