Toradol, a nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drug, is used to relieve moderately severe, acute pain. It is prescribed for a limited amount of time (no more than 5 days for adults and as a single dose for children), not for long-term therapy.

Most important fact about Toradol

Toradol can cause serious side effects, including ulcers and internal bleeding. Never take it for more than 5 days.

How should you take Toradol?

Toradol works fastest when taken on an empty stomach, but an antacid can be taken if it causes upset. Take this medication exactly as prescribed.

Take Toradol with a full glass of water. Also, do not lie down for about 20 minutes after taking it. This will help to prevent irritation of your upper digestive tract.

–If you miss a dose…

If you take Toradol on a regular schedule, take it as soon as you remember. If it is almost time for your next dose, skip the one you missed and go back to your regular schedule. Never take 2 doses at the same time.

–Storage instructions…

Store at room temperature, away from light.

What side effects may occur?

Side effects cannot be anticipated. If any develop or change in intensity, inform your doctor as soon as possible. Only your doctor can determine if it is safe for you to continue using Toradol.

• More common side effects may include:
  Diarrhea, dizziness, drowsiness, headache, indigestion, nausea, stomach and intestinal pain, swelling due to fluid retention

Possible food and drug interactions when taking Toradol

If Toradol is taken with certain other drugs, the effects of either could be increased, decreased, or altered. It is especially important to check with your doctor before combining Toradol with the following:

ACE inhibitor drugs such as the blood pressure medications Vasotec and Capoten
Antidepressants such as Prozac
Antiepileptic drugs (Dilantin, Tegretol)
Aspirin and other nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs such as Motrin
Blood thinners such as Coumadin
Lithium (Eskalith, Lithobid)
Major tranquilizers such as Navane
Methotrexate (Rheumatrex)
Probenecid
Tranquilizers such as Xanax
Water pills such as Lasix and Dyazide

Special information if you are pregnant or breastfeeding

Toradol should not be taken late in pregnancy; during this period, it can harm the developing baby. If you are pregnant or plan to become pregnant, inform your doctor immediately. Toradol appears in breast milk and could affect a nursing infant. This medication should not be used while you are breastfeeding.

Recommended dosage

ADULTS

Your doctor will give you Toradol intravenously or intramuscularly to start, then have you switch to the tablets. Most patients take 2 tablets for the first dose (20 milligrams) and then 1 tablet (10 milligrams) every 4 to 6 hours. You should not take more than 40 milligrams per day and should not take Toradol for more than 5 days in all.

CHILDREN

For children under 16, the doctor may prescribe a single dose of Toradol, by intravenous or intramuscular injection, after an operation. Toradol is not recommended for children under 2.

OLDER ADULTS

Doses are usually lower for people over 65, those with kidney problems, and those who weigh less than 110 pounds. Your doctor will tailor the best dosage for you.

Overdosage

Any medication taken in excess can have serious consequences. If you suspect an overdose, seek medical attention immediately.

• Symptoms of Toradol overdose may include:
  Drowsiness, stomach pain, nausea, vomiting

In rare cases, the victim may develop stomach bleeding, high blood pressure, kidney failure, impaired breathing, or coma. Severe allergic reactions are also possible.

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Tegretol is used in the treatment of seizure disorders, including certain types of epilepsy. It is also prescribed for trigeminal neuralgia (severe pain in the jaws) and pain in the tongue and throat.

In addition, some doctors use Tegretol to treat alcohol withdrawal, cocaine addiction, and emotional disorders such as depression and abnormally aggressive behavior. The drug is also used to treat migraine headache and “restless legs.”

Most important fact about Tegretol

There are potentially dangerous side effects associated with the use of Tegretol. If you experience symptoms such as fever, sore throat, rash, ulcers in the mouth, easy bruising, or reddish or purplish spots on the skin, you should notify your doctor immediately. These symptoms could be signs of a blood disorder brought on by the drug.

How should you take Tegretol?

This medication should only be taken with meals, never on an empty stomach.

Shake the suspension well before using.

Tegretol-XR (extended-release) tablets must be swallowed whole; do not crush or chew them and do not take tablets that have been damaged.

–If you miss a dose…

Take it as soon as you remember. If it is almost time for your next dose, skip the one you missed and go back to your regular schedule. Do not take 2 doses at once. If you miss more than 1 dose in a day, check with your doctor.

–Storage instructions…

Store Tegretol at room temperature. Keep the container tightly closed. Protect the tablets from light and moisture. Keep the liquid suspension away from light.

What side effects may occur?

Side effects cannot be anticipated. If any develop or change in intensity, inform your doctor as soon as possible. Only your doctor can determine if it is safe for you to continue taking Tegretol.

• Side effects especially at the start of treatment may include:
  Dizziness, drowsiness, nausea, unsteadiness, vomiting
• Other side effects may include:
  Allergic reactions, blood pressure changes, bone marrow suppression, hives, rash, sensitivity to light, swelling

Possible food and drug interactions when taking Tegretol

The use of the antiseizure medications phenobarbital, phenytoin (Dilantin), or primidone (Mysoline) may reduce the effectiveness of Tegretol. Take other anticonvulsants along with Tegretol only if your doctor advises it. The use of Tegretol with other anticonvulsants may change thyroid gland function.

All of the following drugs may raise the amount of Tegretol in the blood to harmful levels:

Azithromycin (Zithromax)
Calcium channel blockers such as Calan, Plendil, Sular, and Procardia
Cimetidine (Tagamet)
Clarithromycin (Biaxin)
Danazol (Danocrine)
Diltiazem (Cardizem)
Erythromycin (E-Mycin)
Fluoxetine (Prozac)
Isoniazid (Nydrazid)
Itraconazole (Sporanox)
Ketoconazole (Nizoral)
Loratadine (Claritin)
Niacinamide
Nicotinamide
Propoxyphene (Darvon)
Troleandomycin (Tao)
Valproate (Depakene, Depakote)

The following drugs may also reduce the effectiveness of Tegretol:

Cisplatin (Platinol)
Doxorubicin HCl (Adriamycin)
Felbamate (Felbatol)
Rifampin (Rifadin, Rimactane)
Theophylline (Theo-24, Uniphyl)

When taken with Tegretol, the effectiveness of the following drugs may be reduced: acetaminophen, alprazolam, calcium channel blockers (such as Plendil and Sular), clonazepam, clozapine, corticosteroids such as Pediapred and Decadron, cyclosporine, dicumarol, doxycycline, ethosuximide, haloperidol, itraconazole, lamotrigine, levothyroxine, methadone, methsuximide, midazolam, olanzapine, oral contraceptives, oxcarbazepine, phensuximide, phenytoin, praziquantel, protease inhibitors (such as Crixivan, Norvir, and Viracept), risperidone, theophylline, tiagabine, topiramate, tramadol, tricyclic antidepressants (such as Elavil, Pamelor, and Tofranil), valproic acid, warfarin, ziprasidone, and zonisamide.

Tegretol may increase the effectiveness of clomipramine HCl (Anafranil), phenytoin, or primidone if the drugs are taken together.

Lithium (Eskalith) used with Tegretol may cause harmful nervous system side effects.

If you are taking an oral contraceptive and Tegretol, you may experience blood spotting and your contraceptive may not be completely reliable.

Do not combine Tegretol suspension with other liquid medications such as Thorazine solution or Mellaril liquid. The mixture may congeal internally.

Special information if you are pregnant or breastfeeding

There are no adequate safety studies regarding the use of Tegretol in pregnant women. However, there have been reports of birth defects in infants. Therefore, this medication should be used during pregnancy only if the potential benefits justify the potential risk to the fetus. If you are pregnant or plan on becoming pregnant, you should discuss this with your doctor.

Tegretol appears in breast milk. If you are breastfeeding, your doctor may advise you to discontinue doing so if taking Tegretol is essential to your health.

Recommended dosage

ADULTS

Seizures

The usual dose for adults and children over 12 years of age is 200 milligrams (1 tablet or 2 chewable or extended-release tablets) taken twice daily or 1 teaspoon 4 times a day. Your doctor may increase the dose at weekly intervals by adding 200-milligram doses twice a day for Tegretol-XR or 3 or 4 times per day for the other forms. Dosage should generally not exceed 1,000 milligrams daily in children 12 to 15 years old and 1,200 milligrams daily for adults and children over 15. The usual daily maintenance dosage range is 800 to 1,200 milligrams.

Trigeminal Neuralgia

The usual dose is 100 milligrams (1 chewable or extended-release tablet) twice or one-half teaspoon 4 times on the first day. Your doctor may increase this dose using increments of 100 milligrams every 12 hours or one-half teaspoonful 4 times daily only as needed to achieve freedom from pain. Doses should not exceed 1,200 milligrams daily and are usually in the range of 400 to 800 milligrams a day for maintenance.

CHILDREN

Seizures

The usual dose for children 6 to 12 years old is 100 milligrams twice daily or one-half teaspoon 4 times a day. Your doctor may increase the dose at weekly intervals by adding 100 milligrams twice a day for Tegretol-XR, 3 or 4 times a day for the other forms. Total daily dosage should generally not exceed 1,000 milligrams. The usual daily dosage range for maintenance is 400 to 800 milligrams.

The usual daily starting dose for children under 6 years of age is 10 to 20 milligrams per 2.2 pounds of body weight. The total daily dose is divided into smaller doses taken 2 or 3 times a day for tablets or 4 times a day for suspension. Daily dosage should not exceed 35 milligrams per 2.2 pounds.

OLDER ADULTS

To help determine the ideal dosage, your doctor may decide to periodically check the level of Tegretol in your blood.

Overdosage

Any medication taken in excess can have serious consequences. If you suspect an overdose, seek medical attention immediately. The first signs and symptoms of an overdose of Tegretol appear after 1 to 3 hours.

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Methocarbamol is a muscle relaxant. It works by blocking nerve impulses (or pain sensations) that are sent to your brain.

Methocarbamol is used, along with rest and physical therapy, to treat injuries and other painful muscular conditions.

Methocarbamol is also used in the treatment of tetanus.

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

How should I take Robaxin (Methocarbamol)?

Take methocarbamol exactly as directed by your doctor. If you do not understand these directions, ask your pharmacist, nurse, or doctor to explain them to you.

Take each dose with a full glass of water.

Methocarbamol is usually taken three or four times a day. Follow your doctor’s instructions.

Store methocarbamol at room temperature away from moisture and heat.

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