Cantil

Generic Name: mepenzolate (me PEN zoe late)Brand Names: Cantil

What is Cantil (mepenzolate)?

Mepenzolate reduces stomach acid and helps control muscle spasms in the intestines.

Mepenzolate is used to treat peptic ulcers of the stomach. Mepenzolate does not help heal an ulcer.

Mepenzolate may also be used for purposes other than those listed in this medication guide.

What is the most important information I should know about Cantil (mepenzolate)?You should not take this medication if you are allergic to mepenzolate, or if you have problems with urination, a blockage in your intestines, severe ulcerative colitis, glaucoma, or myasthenia gravis.

Before taking mepenzolate tell your doctor if you have diarrhea, numbness or tingling in your hands or feet, liver or kidney disease, ulcerative colitis, heart disease, high blood pressure, overactive thyroid, hiatal hernia, acid reflux disease, an enlarged prostate, asthma, or any allergies.

Mepenzolate can cause side effects that may impair your vision, thinking, or reactions. Be careful if you drive or do anything that requires you to be alert and able to see clearly. Avoid drinking alcohol. It can increase some of the side effects of mepenzolate.

Avoid becoming overheated or dehydrated during exercise and in hot weather. Mepenzolate can decrease sweating, and you could develop heatstroke more easily.

Stop using mepenzolate and call your doctor at once if you stop urinating, or if you have hallucinations, confusion, unusual thoughts or behavior, or if you have fast, uneven, or pounding heartbeats.What should I discuss with my healthcare provider before taking Cantil (mepenzolate)?You should not take this medication if you are allergic to mepenzolate, or if you have:

• problems with urination;

• a blockage in your intestines, paralytic ileus, severe ulcerative colitis, toxic megacolon;

• glaucoma; or

• myasthenia gravis.

If you have any of these other conditions, you may need a dose adjustment or special tests to safely take mepenzolate:

• diarrhea (especially if you have a colostomy or ileostomy);

• numbness or tingling in your hands or feet;

• liver or kidney disease;

• ulcerative colitis;

• overactive thyroid;

• congestive heart failure, a heart rhythm disorder, or coronary artery disease;

• high blood pressure (hypertension);

• hiatal hernia or acid reflux disease;

• an enlarged prostate; or

• asthma or any allergies.

FDA pregnancy category B. This medication is not expected to be harmful to an unborn baby. Tell your doctor if you are pregnant or plan to become pregnant during treatment. It is not known whether mepenzolate passes into breast milk or if it could harm a nursing baby. Do not take mepenzolate without telling your doctor if you are breast-feeding a baby.

Older adults may be more likely to have side effects from mepenzolate.

How should I take Cantil (mepenzolate)?

Take this medication exactly as prescribed by your doctor. Do not take it in larger amounts or for longer than recommended. Follow the directions on your prescription label.

Your doctor may occasionally change your dose to make sure you get the best results from this medication.

Mepenzolate is usually taken 4 times each day, with meals and at bedtime. Follow your doctor's instructions.

Take this medicine with a full glass of water.

Taking this medication may slow down your digestion, causing a bloated feeling or other stomach discomfort. Talk with your doctor if you have concerns about this effect.

Store mepenzolate at room temperature away from moisture, heat, and direct light.

See also: Cantil dosage in more detail

What happens if I miss a dose?

Take the missed dose as soon as you remember. If it is almost time for your next dose, wait until then to take the medicine and skip the missed dose. Do not take extra medicine to make up the missed dose.

What happens if I overdose?

Seek emergency medical attention if you think you have used too much of this medicine.

Overdose symptoms may include nausea, vomiting, dry mouth, blurred vision, dizziness, headache, dry and hot skin, trouble swallowing, and muscle weakness or stiffness.

What should I avoid while taking Cantil (mepenzolate)?

Mepenzolate can cause side effects that may impair your vision, thinking, or reactions. Be careful if you drive or do anything that requires you to be alert and able to see clearly. Avoid drinking alcohol. It can increase some of the side effects of mepenzolate.

Avoid becoming overheated or dehydrated during exercise and in hot weather. Mepenzolate can decrease sweating, and you could develop heatstroke more easily.

Cantil (mepenzolate) side effects

Get emergency medical help if you have any of these signs of an allergic reaction: hives; difficulty breathing; swelling of your face, lips, tongue, or throat. Stop using mepenzolate and call your doctor at once if you have any of these serious side effects:

• urinating less than usual or not at all;

• confusion, hallucinations;

• unusual thoughts or behavior; or

• fast, pounding, or uneven heartbeats.

Less serious side effects may include:

• drowsiness, dizziness, headache;

• blurred vision;

• memory problems;

• problems with balance or coordination;

• nausea, vomiting, constipation, bloating; or

• decreased sweating.

This is not a complete list of side effects and others may occur. Call your doctor for medical advice about side effects. You may report side effects to FDA at 1-800-FDA-1088.

What other drugs will affect Cantil (mepenzolate)?

The following drugs can interact with mepenzolate. Tell your doctor if you are using any of these:

• amantadine (Symmetrel);

• nitroglycerin;

• heart rhythm medicines such as quinidine (Quinaglute, Cardioquin, Quinidex);

• sedatives such as diazepam (Valium) or medicines to treat mental illness such as chlorpromazine (Thorazine) or thioridazine (Mellaril);

• antidepressants such as amitriptyline (Elavil), imipramine (Janimine, Tofranil), isocarboxazid (Marplan), phenelzine (Nardil), or selegiline (Emsam);

• medicine to treat Parkinson's disease, such as rasagiline (Azilect) or selegiline (Eldepryl); and

• cold or allergy medicines containing antihistamines such as Benadryl, Dimetapp, Actifed, Chlor-Trimeton, and others.

This list is not complete and there may be other drugs that can interact with mepenzolate. Tell your doctor about all your prescription and over-the-counter medications, vitamins, minerals, herbal products, and drugs prescribed by other doctors. Do not start a new medication without telling your doctor.

Where can I get more information?

• Your pharmacist can provide more information about mepenzolate.

• Remember, keep this and all other medicines out of the reach of children, never share your medicines with others, and use this medication only for the indication prescribed
• Every effort has been made to ensure that the information provided by Cerner Multum, Inc. ('Multum') is accurate, up-to-date, and complete, but no guarantee is made to that effect. Drug information contained herein may be time sensitive. Multum information has been compiled for use by healthcare practitioners and consumers in the United States and therefore Multum does not warrant that uses outside of the United States are appropriate, unless specifically indicated otherwise. Multum's drug information does not endorse drugs, diagnose patients or recommend therapy. Multum's drug information is an informational resource designed to assist licensed healthcare practitioners in caring for their patients and/or to serve consumers viewing this service as a supplement to, and not a substitute for, the expertise, skill, knowledge and judgment of healthcare practitioners. The absence of a warning for a given drug or drug combination in no way should be construed to indicate that the drug or drug combination is safe, effective or appropriate for any given patient. Multum does not assume any responsibility for any aspect of healthcare administered with the aid of information Multum provides. The information contained herein is not intended to cover all possible uses, directions, precautions, warnings, drug interactions, allergic reactions, or adverse effects. If you have questions about the drugs you are taking, check with your doctor, nurse or pharmacist.

Copyright 1996-2006 Cerner Multum, Inc. Version: 2.01. Revision Date: 08/12/2009 12:51:09 PM.