Stugeron

How do I take Stugeron?

• Stugeron tablets can be chewed, sucked or swallowed whole.
• If you find this medicine upsets your stomach, taking it with or after food may help.
• Do not take more than the recommended dose.

To prevent travel sickness:

• Adults and adolescents aged over 12 years should take two tablets two hours before travel. You can then take one tablet every eight hours during the journey if needed.
• Children aged 5 to 12 years should take one tablet two hours before travel. Children can then be given half a tablet every eight hours during the journey if needed.

To treat the symptoms of inner ear disorders such as Meniere's disease:

• Adults and adolescents aged over 12 years should take two tablets three times a day.
• Children aged 5 to 12 years should take one tablet three times day.

What should I know before taking Stugeron?

• Stugeron may cause drowsiness. If affected do not drive or operate machinery.
• You should not drink alcohol while taking Stugeron, as this is likely to make drowsiness worse.
• If you are due to have any skin prick tests to diagnose allergies you should stop taking Stugeron at least 48 hours before the tests. This is because antihistamines can prevent or lessen the skin reactions that indicate an allergy, and so can make the test results unreliable.

Who should not take Stugeron?

• Children under five years of age.
• People with rare hereditary blood disorders called porphyrias.
• Women who are pregnant or breastfeeding.
• People with rare hereditary problems of fructose or galactose intolerance, Lapp lactase deficiency, glucose-galactose malabsorption or sucrase-isomaltase insufficiency (Stugeron tablets contain lactose and sucrose).
• People who are allergic to any of the ingredients. If you feel you have experienced an allergic reaction, stop using Stugeron and inform your doctor or pharmacist immediately.

Who should get medical advice before taking Stugeron?

• People with kidney or liver problems.
• People with Parkinson's disease.

Can I take Stugeron while pregnant or breastfeeding?

• Stugeron should not be taken by pregnant women because the safety of cinnarizine for use during pregnancy has not been established. Seek further medical advice from your doctor.
• Stugeron should not be taken by women who are breastfeeding because it is not known if cinnarizine passes into breast milk. Ask your doctor for further advice.

What are the possible side effects of Stugeron?

Medicines and their possible side effects can affect individual people in different ways. The following are some of the side effects that are known to be associated with cinnarizine. Just because a side effect is stated here, it does not mean that all people taking Stugeron will experience that or any side effect.

Common (affect between 1 in 10 and 1 in 100 people)

• Drowsiness.
• Weight gain (with long-term use).
• Indigestion.
• Nausea.

Uncommon (affect between 1 in 100 and 1 in 1000 people)

• Feeling lethargic.
• Fatigue.
• Abdominal pain.
• Vomiting.
• Sweating.

Frequency unknown

• Headache.
• Dry mouth.
• Skin reactions.
• Abnormal movements of the hands, legs, face, neck or tongue, eg tremor, twitching, rigidity (stop taking Stugeron and consult your doctor if you experience any symptoms like this).
• Jaundice (stop taking Stugeron and consult your doctor if you notice any yellowing of your eyes or skin while taking it).

Can I take Stugeron with other medicines?

It is important to tell your doctor or pharmacist what medicines you are already taking, including those bought without a prescription and herbal medicines, before you start taking Stugeron. Similarly, check with your doctor or pharmacist before taking any new medicines while taking Stugeron, to make sure that the combination is safe.

There may be an increased risk of drowsiness if you take Stugeron with other medicines that can cause drowsiness, such as the following:

• antipsychotics, eg chlorpromazine, haloperidol
• benzodiazepines, eg diazepam, temazepam
• sedating antihistamines, eg chlorphenamine, promethazine, hydroxyzine
• sleeping tablets, eg zopiclone
• strong opioid painkillers, eg morphine, codeine, tramadol, fentanyl
• tricyclic antidepressants, eg amitriptyline.
• Cinnarizine may oppose the effect of betahistine (used to treat Meniere's disease) and histamine (used to treat leukaemia).

References:

https://www.drugs.com/uk/stugeron-15mg-tablets-leaflet.html

http://www.netdoctor.co.uk/medicines/digestive-health/a7578/stugeron-cinnarizine/

http://patient.info/medicine/cinnarizine-tablets-stugeron

https://www.medicines.org.uk/emc/medicine/7595

https://www.medicines.org.uk/emc/PIL.4027.latest.pdf