- Why is this Paregoric medication prescribed?
- How to use Paregoric?
- Other uses for this medicine
- Most common side effects of Paregoric
- What are the precautions of Paregoric?
- What can I do if I forget a dose?
- What are the interactions of Paregoric?
- What about the storage and disposal of this medication?
- In case of emergency/overdose
- What other information should I know?
Why is this Paregoric medication prescribed?
Paregoric is a class of drugs known as opioid pain relievers, and it is worked mainly to slow the gut. Paregoric medication is used in the treatment of diarrhea. In the digestive system, Paregoric decreases stomach and intestinal movement. It especially slows down the movement of the intestines.
There are some other uses of this medication you can ask your doctor and pharmacist for more information.
How to use Paregoric?
Paregoric is available in the liquid form to take by mouth, Usually, the doctor suggests taking this medication one to four-time in a day. if stomach upset occurs in that case you can take this medication with food or a meal. Don’t try to take this medication more than six times a day, it would be harmful to you to be habitual of this medicine. Always follow your doctor or pharmacist’s prescription label carefully.
Before taking the medicine shake the bottle properly. After that use the special measuring spoon to measure the quantity of the medicine because if you are using a household spoon you may not get the correct dose. Always remember that the dosage depends upon your medical condition and on your response to treatment and the children’s dosage depends upon the weight.
You may have some symptoms (such as sweating, nausea, vomiting, restlessness) if you suddenly stop using this medication. To stop this symptom, your doctor or pharmacist will lower your dose slowly. But in case you are using this medication for a long time or taking a very dosage then talk to your doctor or pharmacist immediately.
In case you are using this medicine for a long time then this medication may stop working well and you may require different dosing then talk to your doctor or pharmacist immediately if you feel this medication stops working well.
It is very important to drink the water daily around 7 to 8 liters or you have to take the proper amount of fluids and minerals (electrolytes) and if you don’t drink properly then it may cause dehydration and sometimes Diarrhea can also cause dehydration. If you have any symptoms of dehydration (such as unusual decreased urination, unusual dry mouth/thirst, fast heartbeat, or dizziness/lightheadedness) then tell your doctor or pharmacist immediately.
To reduce irritation to your stomach/intestines you may need to change to a bland diet and if your condition lasts or gets worse after 2 to 3 days of treatment. Get the advice to your doctor or pharmacist for more information.
Other uses for this medicine
Ask your doctor and pharmacist for more information about the other uses of Paregoric medication.
Most common side effects of Paregoric
People that are using this medication have some serious side effects because this medication only uses serious side effects. Don’t use this medication without your doctor’s prescription, Doctors will suggest this medication by judging the benefit to you is greater than the risk of side effects. If you have any irritation, burning, or stinging, then firstly stop using it and talk to your doctor.
Some Side Effects of Paregoric:
- Vomiting
- Drowsiness
- Dizziness
- Rash, itching/swelling (especially of the face/tongue/throat)
Some Serious Side Effects of Paregoric:
- Mental/mood changes
- Agitation
- Confusion
- Hallucinations
- Severe stomach/abdominal pain
- Difficulty urinating
- Slow/shallow breathing
If you see some serious side effects then contact your doctor or your pharmacists right away. And this is not the final list of side effects. If you have some other side effects then don’t ignore them, contact your doctor or pharmacist. These side effects could be very harmful.
What are the precautions of Paregoric?
Some special precaution of Paregoric you should have followed before using this medication:
- If you are breastfeeding, pregnant, or planning to become pregnant and using the Paregoric then tell your doctor and pharmacist because this medication is only used when needed and especially when your pregnancy delivery date is near you can not use this medication because it would be very harmful to your new unborn baby.
- Don’t drive while you are taking this medicine or drug until you don’t know how this will affect you because you should know that this drug may make you drowsy.
- If you are planning for surgery or dental surgery and using the Paregoric medication then tell your doctor and dentist.
- If you have any medical history especially of head injury, tumor, seizures, asthma, sleep apnea, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease-COPD, kidney disease, liver disease, confusion, depression then tell your doctor and pharmacist.
- If you are taking some prescription and nonprescription medications especially other pain relievers, antidepressants, medications for cough, cold, or allergies, sedatives, sleeping pills, tranquilizers, and vitamins then tell your doctor and pharmacist.
- And always remember because of this drug alcohol can add to drowsiness.
What can I do if I forget a dose?
In case you forgot to take the medicine and if it is near the time of your next dose then we suggest you please skip that dose and take it at the next dose at the regular time. Don’t take the dose at irregular times. It makes your dose double and it would be harmful to you.
What are the interactions of Paregoric?
The risk for serious side effects can increase because of Drug interaction or it changes the working property of the medicines. This doesn’t contain all the possible drug interactions, It is very important to tell your pharmacist about all your prescriptions, nonprescription, drugs, and herbal products you were taking and make a list of them and carry the list all time. And in case of emergencies, it would help you. When you meet or visit your doctor you should bring the list it’s important things to your doctor. And remember that does not start and stop or change any the dosages of any medicines without taking approval from your doctors.
If you want the best care through your doctor or pharmacists then tell all the things and products you are using like prescription drugs, nonprescription drugs, and herbal products before starting the treatment with this medication. When you are using this medication then make sure that you do not change the dosage of any other medicines that you are using without your doctor’s approval.
Some of the products that can interact with this drug are certain pain medications (mixed opioid agonist/antagonists such as pentazocine, nalbuphine, butorphanol), naltrexone.
If you using some other products or other opioid pain or cough relievers, alcohol, marijuana, drugs for sleep or anxiety, muscle relaxants, or antihistamines then tell your doctor or pharmacist immediately. They may occur some other serious side effects like slow/shallow breathing and severe drowsiness/dizziness.
What about the storage and disposal of this medication?
You should have disposed of all the medication that is unneeded in a special way to ensure that children, pets, and other people can’t consume them. You can not flush them or pour them into the drain. You can return them to the pharmacist or the best way is that you can take back the program for returning your medicines.
Store this medication at room temperature and keep them away from the light or excessive heat and moisture. And put them away from the reach of the pets and children, we suggest you put them in a tightly closed container in which they came. Ensure that the liquid form of this product doesn’t freeze and try to protect it from the light also.
In case of emergency/overdose
If in case a person has collapsed, has trouble breathing, or can’t be awakened because of the overdose of the medicine then try to call the emergency service number, and you can contact the call poison control department.
What other information should I know?
It is very important to tell your pharmacist about all your prescriptions and nonprescription you were taking and make a list of them and carry the list all time it would help you in case of emergencies. When you meet or visit your doctor you should bring the list. It’s important to your doctor.
Don’t miss any of your doctor and laboratory appointments because your doctor will check the response of this medicine then he/she will tell you the update or other pieces of information.
And ensure that no one is taking your medicine or no one has them. And whenever you meet your pharmacist or doctor ask them any of the questions you have about refilling your prescription.
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