Avomine

About Avomine
Avomine tablets contain promethazine which belongs to a group of medicines called phenothiazines. Avomine is an antihistamine and antiemetic (anti-sickness drug) that helps to prevent and treat nausea and vomiting, including travel sickness and vertigo.

Preventing travel sickness
The usual dose for adults is:

• Long journeys: take one tablet each night at bedtime starting the night before you travel.
• Short journeys: take one tablet one or two hours before traveling.

Treatment of travel sickness
Take one tablet as soon as you feel sick followed by a second tablet the same evening. Take a third tablet the next evening if necessary.

Nausea and vomiting due to other causes
One tablet each night is usually enough, but two or three tablets may be required by some patients. These can be taken at intervals during the day, but it is not usually necessary for more than 4 tablets to be needed in any 24 hours. Dr. Fox supplies Avomine to treat travel sickness and any vomiting associated with travellers diarrhoea.

Possible side effects
Like all medicines Avomine can cause side effects, although not everybody gets them. Most are very mild but if you experience any of the following severe side effects which may indicate allergy to Avomine, then seek medical help immediately:

• Severe rash, itching, swelling of the face, lips, or mouth.
• Shortness of breath or difficulty breathing.
• Irregular heartbeats, low blood pressure (light-headed feeling when standing).

If you notice any of the following side effects speak to a doctor or pharmacist:

• Infections, fevers, or sore throats seem to go on for a long time.
• Unexplained bruising or nose-bleeds.
• If you develop a yellow colour of your skin, dark urine, and yellowing of the whites of the eyes.

Other side effects may include:

• Headache, dizziness, restlessness, confusion, feeling tired or sleepy.
• Children may become over-excited while taking this product.
• Occasionally some people, especially the elderly, may experience blurred vision, dry mouth, or difficulty passing water.
• Loss of appetite, upset stomach, nightmares.
• Cramps or muscles twitching or jerking, or the muscles become rigid.
• Unusual movements of the head and face muscles.
• Photosensitivity – your skin may be more sensitive to the effect of the sun so avoid strong sunlight while taking this product.

Cautions
Do not take Avomine if you have or have had:

• An allergic reaction to promethazine, any phenothiazine, or any of the ingredients (sodium metabisulphite, lactose – see patient leaflet for more details).
• Taken medicines for depression, Tricyclic antidepressants, or Monoamine Oxidase Inhibitors (MAOIs) within the last 14 days.
• CNS depression, people with CNS depression will seem sleepy or unconscious (including coma).

Take special care with Avomine and tell your doctor or pharmacist if you suffer with:

• Glaucoma (increased pressure in the eye).
• Epilepsy.
• Heart problems.
• Liver problems.
• Kidney or bladder problems.
• A chest condition such as asthma, bronchiectasis, bronchitis, or a bad cough.
• Severe headaches with blurred vision, severe stomach pains with vomiting, dizziness, difficulty with keeping your balance, ringing in the ears or other ear problems as well as feeling sick.
• Reye’s Syndrome or symptoms of Reye’s Syndrome (including persistent vomiting, feeling tired, or sleepiness).
• Lactose intolerant – Avomine tablets contain lactose.

Do not take Avomine for more than 7 days without contacting your doctor.

Avomine and taking other medicines

Please tell your doctor or pharmacist if you are taking or have recently taken any other medicines, including medicines obtained without a prescription.

You must tell your doctor or pharmacist if you are already taking any of the following medicines:

• Anticholinergic agents, including inhalers for COPD.
• Medicines to help you sleep (hypnotics).
• Medicines for depression, mental illness, or anxiety (tricyclic antidepressants, sedatives).
• Medicines for crampy stomach pains, Parkinson’s disease, or bladder problems.

Taking with food and drink
While taking Avomine, you should avoid drinking alcohol as the tablets will add to the effects of alcohol. Avomine tablets contain lactose.

Pregnancy and breastfeeding
If you are pregnant, think you may be pregnant, or are breastfeeding your baby, you should not take Avomine unless they have been recommended for you by a doctor.

If you are breastfeeding your baby, Avomine may cause your baby to be irritable and excited.

If you are having a pregnancy test, do not take this product as it interferes with the results.

Driving and operating machinery  
These tablets may make you feel dizzy, sleepy, disorientated, or confused, or cause you to have a headache. You should not drive or operate machinery for the first few days, and until you are sure that you are not affected by these unwanted effects.

Skin tests for allergy              
If you are having skin tests for allergy, do not take this medicine as it interferes with the results. You should stop taking this medicine at least 72 hours before the skin tests.

Other uses of Avomine      
In addition to preventing travel sickness, Avomine can also be used to treat:

• Nausea and vomiting due to other causes, including gastroenteritis.
• Allergy.
• Vestibular disturbance.
• Drug intolerance.
• Migraines.

Side effects from radiotherapy.