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| Pronunciation |
|
 (PEM
oh
leen) |
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| Brand Names |
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| Cylert®; PemADD®; PemADD®
CT |
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| Therapeutic
Categories |
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Stimulant |
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| What key warnings should I know
about before taking this
medicine? |
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- This medication may cause liver problems. Some of these problems
may lead to serious side effects, including death. Blood tests will be needed to
watch for any liver problems. They will be done before you start taking this
medication, and every 2 weeks during your treatment. Signs of liver failure
include dark urine, tiredness, decreased appetite, nausea, vomiting, or
yellowing of the skin or eyes. Contact your healthcare provider immediately if
you have any of these symptoms.
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| Reasons not to take this
medicine |
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- If you have an allergy to pemoline or any other part of the medicine.
- If you have liver disease or Tourette's syndrome.
- Do not give to children less than 6 years of
age.
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| What is this medicine used
for? |
|
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- This medicine is used for the treatment of narcolepsy, attention
deficit disorder with hyperactivity, abnormal behavioral syndrome in children
(minimal brain dysfunction).
- You must be given information and sign a consent form to use this
medicine. Therapy should be stopped if there is no benefit seen in 3 weeks after
an effective dose is reached.
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| How does it work? |
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- Pemoline stimulates the brain in adults to increase alertness. This
effect on the brain may also cause weight loss. Pemoline has a stabilizing
effect in children with attention deficit
disorder.
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| How is it best taken? |
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- Take with or without food. Take with food if this medicine causes an
upset stomach.
- Take early in the day to avoid sleep problems.
- Chew chewable tablets well. Do not swallow whole.
- Do not suddenly stop using this medicine if you have been taking it
for a long time. Medicine should be slowly
decreased.
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| What do I do if I miss a
dose? |
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- Take a missed dose as soon as possible.
- If it is almost time for the next dose, skip the missed one. Return to
your regular schedule.
- Do not take a double dose or extra doses.
- Do not change dose or stop taking medicine without talking with
healthcare provider.
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| What are the precautions when
taking this
medicine? |
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- Check medicines with healthcare provider. Monoamine oxidase inhibitors
(eg, isocarboxazid, phenelzine, and tranylcypromine) must be stopped 14 days
before this medicine is started. The two together could cause dangerously high
blood pressure.
- This medicine may be habit-forming with long-term use.
- Limit caffeine (for example, tea, coffee, cola) and chocolate intake.
Use with this medicine may cause nervousness, shakiness, rapid heartbeats, and
anxiety.
- Use caution if you have high blood pressure. Talk with healthcare
provider.
- Do not use over-the-counter products that increase blood pressure.
These include cough or cold remedies, diet pills, stimulants, ibuprofen or like
products, and certain herbs or supplements. Talk with healthcare provider.
- Tell healthcare provider if you are allergic to any medicine. Make
sure to tell about the allergy and how it affected you. This includes telling
about rash; hives; itching; shortness of breath; wheezing; cough; swelling of
face, lips, tongue, throat; or any other symptoms involved.
- Tell healthcare provider if you are pregnant or plan on getting
pregnant.
- Do not use if you are
breast-feeding.
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| What are the common side effects
of this
medicine? |
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- Inability to sleep, nervousness, restlessness, lack of appetite.
- Dizziness is common. Avoid driving, doing other tasks or activities
that require you to be alert until you see how this medicine affects
you.
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| What should I monitor? |
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- If history of high blood pressure, check blood pressure regularly.
- Blood work is needed before starting and while taking this medicine.
Blood work will be every 2 weeks after starting pemoline.
- If for weight loss, follow diet plan and exercise program as
recommended by healthcare provider.
- Follow up with healthcare
provider.
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| Reasons to call healthcare
provider
immediately |
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- Signs of a life-threatening reaction. These include wheezing;
tightness in the chest; fever; itching; bad cough; blue skin color; fits;
swelling of face, lips, tongue, or throat.
- Very nervous and excitable.
- Severe headache.
- Chest pain, pressure, or fast heartbeats.
- Nausea, vomiting, belly pain, feeling tired, yellow eyes or skin, not
hungry.
- Any rash.
- No improvement in condition or feeling
worse.
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| How should I store this
medicine? |
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- Store at room
temperature.
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| General statements |
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- Do not share your medicine with others and do not take anyone else's
medicine.
- Keep all medicine out of the reach of children and pets.
- Keep a list of all your medicines (prescription, herbal/supplements,
vitamins, over-the-counter) with you. Give this list to healthcare provider
(doctor, nurse, pharmacist, physician assistant).
- Read the package insert for more details (given with the medicine).
- Talk with healthcare provider before starting any new medicine,
including over-the-counter or natural products (herbs,
vitamins).
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