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|Rimantadine

Rimantadine

Rimantadine is used for:

Preventing and treating certain types of flu in adults. It is also used to prevent certain types of flu in children. It may also be used for other conditions as determined by your doctor.

Rimantadine is an antiviral agent. How Rimantadine works is not known. It may block reproduction of the virus.

Do NOT use Rimantadine if:

• you are allergic to any ingredient in Rimantadine or to any adamantane medicine (eg, amantadine)

Contact your doctor or health care provider right away if any of these apply to you.

Before using Rimantadine :

Some medical conditions may interact with Rimantadine . Tell your doctor or pharmacist if you have any medical conditions, especially if any of the following apply to you:

• if you are pregnant, planning to become pregnant, or are breast-feeding
• if you are taking any prescription or nonprescription medicine, herbal preparation, or dietary supplement
• if you have allergies to medicines, foods, or other substances
• if you have a history of liver or kidney problems or seizures

Some MEDICINES MAY INTERACT with Rimantadine . Tell your health care provider if you are taking any other medicines, especially any of the following:

• Acetaminophen or aspirin because they may decrease the amount of Rimantadine in your blood
• Cimetidine because it may increase the risk of Rimantadine "s side effects

This may not be a complete list of all interactions that may occur. Ask your health care provider if Rimantadine may interact with other medicines that you take. Check with your health care provider before you start, stop, or change the dose of any medicine.

How to use Rimantadine :

Use Rimantadine as directed by your doctor. Check the label on the medicine for exact dosing instructions.

• Rimantadine may be taken with or without food.
• If you are taking Rimantadine to treat the flu, start taking it as soon as possible. It works best if you begin taking it within 48 hours after you start having flu symptoms.
• Take Rimantadine for the full course of treatment. Do not miss any doses.
• If you miss a dose of Rimantadine , take it as soon as possible. If it is almost time for your next dose, skip the missed dose and go back to your regular dosing schedule. Do not take 2 doses at once.

Ask your health care provider any questions you may have about how to use Rimantadine .

Important safety information:

• Rimantadine may cause dizziness or drowsiness. These effects may be worse if you take it with alcohol or certain medicines. Use Rimantadine with caution. Do not drive or perform other possibly unsafe tasks until you know how you react to it.
• Rimantadine only works against certain types of the flu; it does not treat other viral infections (eg, the common cold).
• Be sure to use Rimantadine for the full course of treatment. If you do not, the medicine may not work as well. The virus could also become less sensitive to this or other medicines. This could make the infection harder to treat in the future.
• Use Rimantadine with caution in the ELDERLY because they may be more sensitive to its effects. These include dizziness, headache, anxiety, weakness, tiredness, nausea, vomiting, and stomach pain.
• Rimantadine should be used with extreme caution in CHILDREN younger than 1 year of age; safety and effectiveness in these children have not been determined.
• PREGNANCY and BREAST-FEEDING: If you become pregnant, contact your doctor. You will need to discuss the benefits and risks of using Rimantadine while you are pregnant. It is unknown if Rimantadine is excreted in breast milk. Do not breast-feed while taking Rimantadine .

Possible side effects of Rimantadine :

All medicines may cause side effects, but many people have no, or minor, side effects. Check with your doctor if any of these most COMMON side effects persist or become bothersome:

Dizziness; dry mouth; headache; loss of appetite; nausea; nervousness; stomach pain; tiredness; trouble sleeping; vomiting; weakness.

Severe allergic reactions (rash; hives; itching; difficulty breathing; tightness in the chest; swelling of the mouth, face, lips, or tongue); confusion; depression; fast or irregular heartbeat; hallucinations; seizures; swelling of the hands, ankles, or feet; tremor; trouble walking.

This is not a complete list of all side effects that may occur. If you have questions or need medical advice about side effects, contact your doctor or health care provider. You may report side effects to the FDA at 1-800-FDA-1088 (1-800-332-1088) or at http://www.fda.gov/medwatch.

If OVERDOSE is suspected:

Contact 1-800-222-1222 (the American Association of Poison Control Centers), your local poison control center (http://www.aapcc.org/findyour.htm), or emergency room immediately. Symptoms may include agitation; hallucination; irregular heartbeat.

Store Rimantadine at 77 degrees F (25 degrees C). Brief storage at temperatures between 59 and 86 degrees F (15 and 30 degrees C) is allowed. Store away from heat, moisture, and light. Do not store in the bathroom. Keep Rimantadine out of the reach of children and away from pets.

General information:

• If you have any questions about Rimantadine , please talk with your doctor, pharmacist, or other health care provider.
• Rimantadine is to be used only by the patient for whom it is prescribed. Do not share it with other people.
• If your symptoms do not improve or if they become worse, check with your doctor.

This information is a summary only. It does not contain all information about Rimantadine . If you have questions about the medicine you are taking or would like more information, check with your doctor, pharmacist, or other health care provider.