Mecamylamine (By mouth)

Introduction:

Mecamylamine (me-ka-MIL-a-meen)

Treats severe high blood pressure.

Brand Name(s):

Inversine

When This Medicine Should Not Be Used:

How to Use This Medicine:

Tablet

• Your doctor will tell you how much of this medicine to use and how often. Do not use more medicine or use it more often than your doctor tells you to.
• It is best to take this medicine after you have eaten. Take it at the same time following a meal each day.
• If you miss a dose or forget to use your medicine, call your doctor or pharmacist for instructions.

How to Store and Dispose of This Medicine:

• Store the medicine in a closed container at room temperature, away from heat, moisture, and direct light.
• Ask your pharmacist, doctor, or health caregiver about the best way to dispose of any outdated medicine or medicine no longer needed.
• Keep all medicine away from children and never share your medicine with anyone.

Drugs and Foods to Avoid:

Ask your doctor or pharmacist before using any other medicine, including over-the-counter medicines, vitamins, and herbal products.

• Make sure your doctor knows if you are also using sulfonamides (trimethoprim/sulfamethoxazole, Bactrim®, Cotrim®, Septra®) or other antibiotics.
• Make sure your doctor knows if you are also using diuretic medicine ("water pills," furosemide, spironolactone, indapamide), or if you are also using other medicines to lower blood pressure. Some blood pressure medicines are atenolol, hydrochlorothiazide (HCTZ), lisinopril, metoprolol, quinapril, Accupril®, Cozaar®, Diovan®, Lotrel®, Norvasc®, Toprol®, and Zestril®.
• Tell your doctor if you drink alcohol daily or regularly. Drinking alcohol while using this medicine may cause its side effects to become worse.

Warnings While Using This Medicine:

• Make sure your doctor knows if you are pregnant or breast feeding, or if you have kidney or heart problems. Make sure your doctor knows if you have arteriosclerosis (hardening of the arteries).
• Tell your doctor if you have a condition that causes trouble urinating (passing water, going to the bathroom) or causes you to urinate not very often. Problems that may cause this include enlarged prostate gland, blockage of the outlet from the bladder, or urethral stricture (narrowing of the tube that releases urine from your bladder).
• Make sure your doctor knows if you have fever, infection, diarrhea, vomiting, or if you are sweating a lot.
• Let your doctor know how much sodium (salt) you usually have in your diet. Your doctor may need to change the amount of medicine you should use based on what you eat and drink.
• This medicine may make you dizzy. Avoid driving, using machines, or doing anything else that could be dangerous if you are not alert.
• Do not stop using this medicine suddenly without asking your doctor. You may need to slowly decrease your dose before stopping it completely.

Possible Side Effects While Using This Medicine:

Call your doctor right away if you notice any of these side effects:

• Allergic reaction: Itching or hives, swelling in your face or hands, swelling or tingling in your mouth or throat, chest tightness, trouble breathing.
• Swollen or bloated stomach and diarrhea (runny stools).

If you notice these less serious side effects, talk with your doctor:

• Blurred eye sight.
• Difficulty breathing, or wheezing.
• Difficulty thinking clearly.
• Dry mouth, loss of appetite.
• Lightheadedness, dizziness, or fainting.
• Nausea, vomiting, or constipation (hard, dry stools that are difficult to pass, less often than usual).
• Seizures or shaking of the hands or other body parts, or twitching or jerky, jumpy movements of the muscles.

If you notice other side effects that you think are caused by this medicine, tell your doctor: