drug-information.ru

|Entacyl

PIPERAZINE (Systemic)

Some commonly used brand names are:

In Canada—

• Entacyl

Generic name product may be available in the U.S.

Category

• Anthelmintic, systemic

Description

Piperazine (PI-per-a-zeen) belongs to the family of medicines called anthelmintics (ant-hel-MIN-tiks) . Anthelmintics are used in the treatment of worm infections.

Piperazine is used to treat:

• common roundworms (ascariasis) and
• pinworms (enterobiasis; oxyuriasis).

Piperazine works by paralyzing the worms. They are then passed in the stool.

Piperazine is available only with your doctor"s prescription, in the following dosage forms:

• Oral
• Granules for oral solution (Canada)
• Oral suspension (Canada)
• Tablets (U.S.)

Before Using This Medicine

In deciding to use a medicine, the risks of taking the medicine must be weighed against the good it will do. This is a decision you and your doctor will make. For piperazine, the following should be considered:

Allergies—Tell your doctor if you have ever had any unusual or allergic reaction to piperazine or ethylenediamine. Also tell your health care professional if you are allergic to any other substances, such as foods, preservatives, or dyes.

Pregnancy—Piperazine has not been studied in pregnant women. Piperazine has not been shown to cause birth defects or other problems in animal studies. However, piperazine, taken by mouth, may be changed within the body into a substance that may cause cancer. Before taking piperazine, make sure your doctor knows if you are pregnant or if you may become pregnant.

Breast-feeding—It is not known whether piperazine passes into breast milk. Although most medicines pass into breast milk in small amounts, many of them may be used safely while breast-feeding. Mothers who are taking this medicine and who wish to breast-feed should discuss this with their doctor.

Children—Children may be especially sensitive to the effects of piperazine. This may increase the chance of side effects during treatment.

Older adults—Many medicines have not been studied specifically in older people. Therefore, it may not be known whether they work exactly the same way they do in younger adults or if they cause different side effects or problems in older people. There is no specific information comparing use of piperazine in the elderly with use in other age groups.

Other medicines—Although certain medicines should not be used together at all, in other cases two different medicines may be used together even if an interaction might occur. In these cases, your doctor may want to change the dose, or other precautions may be necessary. When you are taking piperazine, it is especially important that your health care professional know if you are taking any of the following:

• Phenothiazines (acetophenazine [e.g., Tindal], chlorpromazine [e.g., Thorazine], fluphenazine [e.g., Prolixin], mesoridazine [e.g., Serentil], perphenazine[e.g., Trilafon], prochlorperazine [e.g., Compazine], promazine [e.g., Sparine], promethazine [e.g., Phenergan], thioridazine [e.g., Mellaril], trifluoperazine [e.g., Stelazine], triflupromazine [e.g., Vesprin], trimeprazine [e.g., Temaril])—Taking piperazine and a phenothiazine together may increase the risk of convulsions (seizures)

• Pyrantel (e.g., Antiminth)—Taking piperazine and pyrantel together may decrease the effects of piperazine

Other medical problems—The presence of other medical problems may affect the use of piperazine. Make sure you tell your doctor if you have any other medical problems, especially:

• Kidney disease or
• Liver disease—Patients with kidney or liver disease may have an increased chance of side effects

• Seizure disorder, especially a history of epilepsy—Piperazine may make the condition worse

Proper Use of This Medicine

No special preparations or other steps (for example, special diet, fasting, other medicines, laxatives, or enemas) are necessary before, during, or immediately after you take piperazine.

Piperazine may be taken with or without food or on a full or empty stomach. However, if your doctor tells you to take the medicine a certain way, take it exactly as directed.

For patients taking the granules for oral solution form of piperazine:

• Dissolve the contents of 1 packet of granules in 57 mL (about 2 ounces) of water, milk, or fruit juice.
• Be sure to drink all of the liquid to get the full dose of medicine.

Take this medicine only as directed . Do not take more of it and do not take it more often than your doctor ordered. To do so may increase the chance of serious side effects.

To help clear up your infection completely, take this medicine in regularly spaced doses as ordered by your doctor . In some infections, a second treatment with this medicine may be required to clear up the infection completely. Do not miss any doses .

For patients taking piperazine for pinworms :

• Pinworms may be easily passed from one person to another, especially among persons in the same household. Therefore, all household members may have to be treated at the same time to prevent their infection or reinfection.

Dosing—The dose of piperazine will be different for different patients. Follow your doctor"s orders or the directions on the label . The following information includes only the average doses of piperazine. If your dose is different, do not change it unless your doctor tells you to do so.

The number of tablets or teaspoonfuls of solution or suspension of the medicine that you take depends on the strength of the medicine. Also, the number of doses you take each day, the time allowed between doses, and the length of time you take the medicine depend on the medical problem for which you are taking piperazine .

• For granules for oral solution dosage form:
  • For common roundworms or pinworms:
    • Adults and teenagers—2 grams three times a day for one day. Treatment may need to be repeated in two weeks.
    • Children—Dose is based on age and/or body weight. Treatment may need to be repeated in two weeks.
      • Up to 2 years of age: Dose must be determined by your doctor.
      • 2 to 8 years of age: 2 grams once a day for one day.
      • 8 to 14 years of age: 2 grams two times a day for one day.
• For oral suspension dosage form:
  • For common roundworms or pinworms:
    • Adults and teenagers—1.8 grams every four hours for a total of three doses in one day. Treatment may need to be repeated in two weeks.
    • Children—Dose is based on age. Treatment may need to be repeated in two weeks.
      • Up to 2 years of age: 600 milligrams (mg) every four hours for a total of three doses in one day.
      • 2 to 8 years of age: 1.2 grams every six hours for a total of two doses in one day.
      • 8 to 14 years of age: 1.2 grams every four hours for a total of three doses in one day.
• For tablet dosage form:
  • For common roundworms:
    • Adults and teenagers—3.5 grams (piperazine hexahydrate) per day for two days in a row. Treatment may need to be repeated in one week.
    • Children—Dose is based on body weight and must be determined by your doctor. However, the usual dose is 75 mg (piperazine hexahydrate) per kilogram (34 mg per pound) of body weight per day for two days in a row. Treatment may need to be repeated in one week.
  • For pinworms:
    • Adults and children—Dose is based on body weight and must be determined by your doctor. However, the usual dose is 65 mg (piperazine hexahydrate) per kilogram (29.5 mg per pound) of body weight per day for seven days in a row. Treatment may need to be repeated in one week.

Missed dose—If you miss a dose of this medicine, take it as soon as possible. However, if it is almost time for your next dose, skip the missed dose and go back to your regular dosing schedule. Do not double doses.

Storage—To store this medicine:

• Keep out of the reach of children. Overdose of piperazine is very dangerous in young children.
• Store away from heat and direct light.
• Do not store in the bathroom, near the kitchen sink, or in other damp places. Heat or moisture may cause the medicine to break down.
• Keep the liquid form of this medicine from freezing.
• Do not keep outdated medicine or medicine no longer needed. Be sure that any discarded medicine is out of the reach of children.

Precautions While Using This Medicine

It is important that your doctor check your progress after treatment. This is to make sure that the infection is cleared up completely, and to allow your doctor to check for any unwanted effects.

If your symptoms do not improve after you have taken this medicine for the full course of treatment, or if they become worse, check with your doctor.

For patients taking piperazine for pinworms :

• In some patients, pinworms may return after treatment with piperazine. Washing (not shaking) all bedding and nightclothes (pajamas) after treatment may help to prevent this.

Side Effects of This Medicine

Along with its needed effects, a medicine may cause some unwanted effects. Although not all of these side effects may occur, if they do occur they may need medical attention.

Check with your doctor immediately if any of the following side effects occur:

Other side effects may occur that usually do not need medical attention. These side effects may go away during treatment as your body adjusts to the medicine. However, check with your doctor if any of the following side effects continue or are bothersome:

Other side effects not listed above may also occur in some patients. If you notice any other effects, check with your doctor.

Revised: 11/21/1996

The information contained in the Thomson Healthcare (Micromedex) products as delivered by Drugs.com is intended as an educational aid only. It is not intended as medical advice for individual conditions or treatment. It is not a substitute for a medical exam, nor does it replace the need for services provided by medical professionals. Talk to your doctor, nurse or pharmacist before taking any prescription or over the counter drugs (including any herbal medicines or supplements) or following any treatment or regimen. Only your doctor, nurse, or pharmacist can provide you with advice on what is safe and effective for you.

The use of the Thomson Healthcare products is at your sole risk. These products are provided "AS IS" and "as available" for use, without warranties of any kind, either express or implied. Thomson Healthcare and Drugs.com make no representation or warranty as to the accuracy, reliability, timeliness, usefulness or completeness of any of the information contained in the products. Additionally, THOMSON HEALTHCARE MAKES NO REPRESENTATION OR WARRANTIES AS TO THE OPINIONS OR OTHER SERVICE OR DATA YOU MAY ACCESS, DOWNLOAD OR USE AS A RESULT OF USE OF THE THOMSON HEALTHCARE PRODUCTS. ALL IMPLIED WARRANTIES OF MERCHANTABILITY AND FITNESS FOR A PARTICULAR PURPOSE OR USE ARE HEREBY EXCLUDED. Thomson Healthcare does not assume any responsibility or risk for your use of the Thomson Healthcare products.