Mecamylamine Hydrochloride, Oral mek-a-MIL-a-meen hy-droh-KLOR-ide

What are other names for this medicine?

Type of medicine: antihypertensive

Generic and brand names: mecamylamine hydrochloride, oral

What is this medicine used for?

This medicine is taken by mouth to treat high blood pressure. It may be used for other conditions as determined by your healthcare provider.

What should my healthcare provider know before I take this medicine?

Before taking this medicine, tell your healthcare provider if you have ever had:

• an allergic reaction to any medicine
• a stroke
• bladder or prostate problems, such as trouble urinating
• glaucoma
• heart or blood vessel disease, including a heart attack
• kidney problems
• pyloric stenosis (narrowing of the stomach outlet)

Tell your healthcare provider if you currently:

• take sulfa drugs or other antibiotics
• have diarrhea, fever, infection, or vomiting

Females of childbearing age: Tell your healthcare provider if you are pregnant or plan to become pregnant. It is not known whether this medicine will harm an unborn baby. Do not breast-feed while taking this medicine without your healthcare provider's approval.

How do I take it?

Check the label on the medicine for directions about your specific dose. Take this medicine exactly as your healthcare provider prescribes. Do not take more or less or take it longer than prescribed. Do not stop taking this medicine without your healthcare provider's approval.

Take this medicine regularly every day to control your blood pressure. Take the medicine with the same meal each day to help you remember to take it.

Your healthcare provider may prescribe other medicines to be taken with this one. Take any other medicines as prescribed.

What if I miss a dose?

If you miss a dose, take it as soon as you remember unless it is almost time for the next scheduled dose. In that case, skip the missed dose and take the next one as directed. Do not take double doses. If you are not sure of what to do if you miss a dose, or if you miss more than 2 doses in a row, contact your healthcare provider.

What if I overdose?

If you or anyone else has intentionally taken too much of this medicine, call 911 or go to the emergency room right away. If you pass out, have seizures, weakness or confusion, or have trouble breathing, call 911. If you think that you or anyone else may have taken too much of this medicine, call the poison control center. Do this even if there are no signs of discomfort or poisoning. The poison control center number is 800-222-1222.

Symptoms of an acute overdose may include: fainting, dizziness, weakness, confusion, nausea, vomiting, diarrhea, constipation, trouble urinating, anxiety, dry mouth, large pupils, blurred vision, irregular heartbeat.

What should I watch out for?

Do not stop taking this medicine without your healthcare provider's approval. If you stop taking this medicine suddenly, you risk a life-threatening reaction. Your healthcare provider will gradually reduce your dosage if needed.

This medicine may cause dizziness, lightheadedness, or fainting especially when you get up from a lying or sitting position. This effect may be increased by alcohol, exercise, or hot weather. Getting up slowly may lessen this effect. Do not drive or operate machinery until you are fully alert.

This medicine may be affected by the amount of sodium you eat. Talk to your healthcare provider before you change your diet.

Do not drink alcohol while taking this medicine.

If you need emergency care, surgery, or dental work, tell the healthcare provider or dentist you are taking this medicine.

What are the possible side effects?

Along with its needed effects, your medicine may cause some unwanted side effects. Some side effects may be very serious. Some side effects may go away as your body adjusts to the medicine. Tell your healthcare provider if you have any side effects that continue or get worse.

Life-threatening (Report these to your healthcare provider right away). If you cannot reach your healthcare provider right away, get emergency medical care or call 911 for help): Allergic reaction (hives; itching; rash; trouble breathing; chest pain or tightness in your chest; swelling of your lips, tongue, and throat).

Serious (report these to your healthcare provider right away): Seizures, tremors, abnormal and involuntary movements, depression, confusion, diarrhea, trouble breathing, fainting, trouble urinating.

Other: Constipation, vomiting, nausea, loss of appetite, dry mouth, dizziness, lightheadedness, change in sexual ability or desire, blurred vision, weakness, tiredness.

What products might interact with this medicine?

When you take this medicine with other medicines, it can change the way this or any of the other medicines work. Nonprescription medicines, vitamins, natural remedies, and certain foods may also interact. Using these products together might cause harmful side effects. Talk to your healthcare provider if you are taking:

• alcohol
• antibiotics or sulfa medicines such as sulfamethoxazole
• ACE inhibitors such as benazepril (Lotensin), captopril, enalapril (Vasotec), fosinopril, lisinopril (Prinivil, Zestril), quinapril (Accupril), and ramipril (Altace)
• angiotensin receptor II blockers such as candesartan (Atacand), eprosartan (Teveten), irbesartan (Avapro), losartan (Cozaar), olmesartan (Benicar), telmisartan (Micardis), and valsartan (Diovan)
• beta blockers such as atenolol (Tenormin), bisoprolol (Zebeta), carvedilol (Coreg), metoprolol (Lopressor, Toprol XL), and propranolol (Inderal)
• calcium channel blockers such as amlodipine (Norvasc), diltiazem (Cardizem, Dilacor, Zetia), felodipine, nifedipine (Procardia, Adalat), and verapamil (Calan, Verelan, Covera HS, Isoptin)
• diuretics such as amiloride, amiloride/hydrochlorothiazide (Moduretic), bumetanide, chlorthalidone (Hygroton), furosemide (Lasix), hydrochlorothiazide (Microzide), indapamide (Lozol), metolazone (Zaroxolyn), spironolactone (Aldactone), spironolactone/hydrochlorothiazide (Aldactazide), torsemide (Demadex), triamterene (Dyrenium), and triamterene/hydrochlorothiazide (Dyazide, Maxzide)
• other blood pressure medicines such as clonidine (Catapres), guanethidine, hydralazine, terazosin (Hytrin), methyldopa, and prazosin (Minipress)
• sodium citrate (Bicitra)

If you are not sure if your medicines might interact, ask your pharmacist or healthcare provider. Keep a list of all your medicines with you. List all the prescription medicines, nonprescription medicines, supplements, natural remedies, and vitamins that you take. Be sure that you tell all healthcare providers who treat you about all the products you are taking.

How should I store this medicine?

Store this medicine at room temperature. Keep the container tightly closed. Protect it from heat, high humidity, and bright light.

This advisory includes selected information only and may not include all side effects of this medicine or drug interactions with other medicines, Ask your healthcare provider or pharmacist for more information or if you have any questions.

Ask your pharmacist for the best way to dispose of outdated medicine or medicine you have not used. Do not throw medicine in the trash.

Keep all medicines out of the reach of children.

Do not share medicines with other people.