NOTICE: This Consumer Medicine Information (CMI) is intended for persons living in Australia.
APO-MEBEVERINE
Mebeverine hydrochloride
Consumer Medicine Information
What is in this leaflet
This leaflet answers some common questions about mebeverine. It does not contain all the available information. It does not take the place of talking to your doctor or pharmacist.
All medicines have risks and benefits. Your doctor has weighed the risks of you taking this medicine against the benefits they expect it will have for you.
If you have any concerns about taking this medicine, ask your doctor or pharmacist.
Keep this leaflet with the medicine.
You may need to read it again.
What this medicine is used for
Mebeverine is used to relieve the symptoms of irritable bowel syndrome. It belongs to a group of medicines called antispasmodic agents.
How it works
Mebeverine works by relaxing the muscles in the gut, thereby relieving the symptoms of irritable bowel syndrome.
Ask your doctor if you have any questions about why it has been prescribed for you.
Your doctor may have prescribed it for another reason.
This medicine is available only with a doctor’s prescription.
This medicine is not addictive.
There is not enough information to recommend the use of this medicine in children.
Before you take this medicine
When you must not take it
Do not take this medicine if you have an allergy to:
mebeverine
any of the ingredients listed at the end of this leaflet
Some of the symptoms of an allergic reaction may include:
shortness of breath
wheezing or difficulty in breathing
swelling of the face, lips, tongue or other parts of the body
rash, itching or hives on the skin
Do not take this medicine after the expiry date printed on the pack or if the packaging is damaged or shows signs of tampering.
If it has expired or is damaged, return it to your pharmacist for disposal.
If you are not sure whether you should start taking this medicine, talk to your doctor.
Before you start to take it
Tell your doctor if you have any allergies to any other medicines, foods, preservatives or dyes.
Tell your doctor if you have or have had any of the following medical conditions:
angina or other heart conditions
liver problems
kidney problems
lactose intolerance
Tell your doctor if you are pregnant, intend to become pregnant, or are breastfeeding.
Your doctor can discuss with you the risks and benefits involved.
If you have not told your doctor about any of the above, tell them before you start taking mebeverine.
Taking other medicines
Tell your doctor or pharmacist if you are taking any other medicines, including any that you buy without a prescription from your pharmacy, supermarket or health food store.
How to take this medicine
Follow all directions given to you by your doctor or pharmacist carefully.
They may differ from the information contained in this leaflet.
If you do not understand the instructions on the box, ask your doctor or pharmacist for help.
How much to take
The usual dose is one tablet taken three times a day.
How to take it
Swallow the tablets whole with a glass of water.
When to take it
Take this medicine at about the same time each day.
Taking it at the same time each day will have the best effect. It will also help you remember when to take it.
It does not matter if you take this medicine before or after food.
How long to take it
Continue taking your medicine for as long as your doctor tells you.
It is important to keep taking your medicine even if you feel well.
If you forget to take it
If it is almost time for your next dose, skip the dose you missed and take your next dose when you are meant to.
Otherwise, take it as soon as you remember, and then go back to taking your medicine as you would normally.
Do not take a double dose to make up for the dose that you missed.
This may increase the chance of getting an unwanted side effect.
If you are not sure what to do, ask your doctor or pharmacist.
If you have trouble remembering to take your medicine, ask your pharmacist for hints.
If you take too much (overdose)
Immediately telephone your doctor or the Poisons Information Centre (telephone 13 11 26) or go to Accident and Emergency at your nearest hospital, if you think you or anyone else may have taken too much mebeverine. Do this even if there are no signs of discomfort or poisoning.
You may need urgent medical attention.
While you are using this medicine
Things you must do
If you are about to be started on any new medicine, remind your doctor and pharmacist that you are taking mebeverine.
Tell any other doctors, dentists and pharmacists who treat you that you are taking this medicine.
If you become pregnant while you are taking this medicine, tell your doctor immediately.
Things you must not do
Do not use this medicine to treat any other complaints unless your doctor or pharmacist tells you to.
Do not give this medicine to anyone else, even if they have the same condition as you.
Do not stop taking mebeverine, or change the dosage, without checking with your doctor.
Things to be careful of
Be careful driving or operating machinery until you know how mebeverine affects you.
Side effects
Tell your doctor or pharmacist as soon as possible if you do not feel well while you are taking mebeverine.
Mebeverine helps most people with irritable bowel syndrome, but it may have unwanted side effects in a few people. All medicines have some unwanted side effects. Sometimes they are serious, most of the time they are not. You may need medical attention if you get some of the side- effects.
Do not be alarmed by this list of possible side effects. You may not experience any of them.
Ask your doctor or pharmacist to answer any questions you may have.
Tell your doctor or pharmacist if you notice any of the following and they worry you:
indigestion or heartburn
constipation
dizziness
headache
tiredness
difficulty sleeping
loss of appetite
The above list includes the more common side effects of your medicine. They are usually mild and short-lived.
If any of the following happen, tell your doctor immediately or go to Accident and Emergency at your nearest hospital:
swelling of the face, lips or tongue, difficulty swallowing or breathing (signs of an allergic reaction)
The above list includes very serious side effects that may need urgent medical attention. These side effects are rare.
Tell your doctor or pharmacist if you notice anything else that is making you feel unwell.
Other side effects not listed above may occur in some people.
Storage and Disposal
Storage
Keep your tablets in the pack until it is time to take them.
If you take the tablets out of the pack, they may not keep well.
Keep the medicine in a cool, dry place where the temperature stays below 25°C.
Do not store it or any other medicine in the bathroom, near a sink, or on a windowsill. Do not leave it in the car.
Heat and dampness can destroy some medicines.
Keep it where children cannot reach it.
A locked cupboard at least one-and- a-half metres above the ground is a good place to store medicines.
Disposal
If your doctor tells you to stop taking this medicine or the expiry date has passed, ask your pharmacist what to do with any that are left over.
Product description
What it looks like
White, round biconvex film coated tablets and plain on both sides.
Available in boxes of 10, 30 and 90 tablets. AUST R 288817
Ingredients
Each tablet contains 135 mg of mebeverine hydrochloride as the active ingredient.
It also contains the following:
microcrystalline cellulose
lactose monohydrate
sodium starch glycolate
povidone
purified talc
magnesium stearate
OPADRY complete film coating system 03F58763 WHITE
This medicine does not contain gluten.
Sponsor
Apotex Pty Ltd
16 Giffnock Avenue
Macquarie Park NSW 2113
Australia
This leaflet was prepared in February 2019.
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