MEPROBAMATE & ASPIRIN

Brand & Generic Names

Epromate-M
Equagesic
Equazine-M
Heptogesic
Mepro Analgesic
Meprogese
Meprogesic
Meprogesic Q
Micrainin
Q-gesic
Tranquigesic

Basic Information

• Habit forming? Yes
• Prescription needed? Yes
• Available as generic? No
• Drug class: Anti-inflammatory (non-steroidal), analgesic, tranquilizer

Uses

• Reduces mild anxiety, tension and insomnia.
• Reduces pain, fever, inflammation.
• Relieves swelling, stiffness, joint pain.
• Antiplatelet effect.

Dosage & Usage Information

How to take:
Tablet--Swallow with liquid.
Effervescent tablets--Dissolve in water.

When to take:
Pain, fever, inflammation--As needed, no more often than every 4 hours.

If you forget a dose:
Take as soon as you remember up to 2 hours late. If more than 2 hours, wait for next scheduled dose (don't double this dose).

What drug does:
Sedates brain centers which control behavior and emotions.
Affects hypothalamus, the part of the brain which regulates temperature by dilating small blood vessels in skin.
Prevents clumping of platelets (small blood cells) so blood vessels remain open.
Decreases prostaglandin effect.
Suppresses body's pain messages.

Time lapse before drug works:
1 to 2 hours.

Don't take with:
Tetracyclines.
Non-prescription drugs containing alcohol or caffeine without consulting doctor.
Any other medicine without consulting your doctor or pharmacist.

Overdose

SYMPTOMS:
Dizziness; slurred speech; stagger; depressed heart function; ringing in ears; nausea; vomiting; fever; deep, rapid breathing; hallucinations; convulsions; stupor; coma.

WHAT TO DO:

• Dial 911 (emergency) or O (operator) for an ambulance or medical help. Then give first aid immediately.
• See EMERGENCY Information.

Possible Adverse Reactions or Side Effects

Life-threatening:

Hives, rash, intense Seek emergency itching, faintness soon treatment immediately. after a dose (anaphylaxis); difficulty breathing.

Common:

• Nausea, vomiting.
• Dizziness, confusion, agitation, drowsiness, unsteadiness, fatigue, weakness, ears ringing, heartburn, indigestion, abdominal pain.

Infrequent:

Blurred vision, headache.

Rare:

• Black, bloody or tarry stool; vomiting blood or black material; blood in urine.
• Rash, hives, itchy skin, change in vision, fever, jaundice, mental confusion.

Warnings & Precautions

Don't take if:

• You are allergic to meprobamate, tybamate, carbromal or carisoprodol.
• You are sensitive to aspirin.
• You have had porphyria.
• You have a peptic ulcer of stomach or duodenum or a bleeding disorder.
• Patient is younger than 6.

Before you start, consult your doctor:

• If you have epilepsy, impaired liver or kidney function, asthma or nasal polyps.
• If you are allergic to tartrazine.
• If you have had gout, stomach or duodenal ulcers.

Over age 60:
Adverse reactions and side effects may be more frequent and severe than in younger persons. More likely to cause hidden bleeding in stomach or intestines. Watch for dark stools.

Pregnancy:
Risk to unborn child outweighs drug benefits. Don't use.

Breast-feeding:
Drug passes into milk. Avoid drug or discontinue nursing until you finish medicine. Consult doctor for advice on maintaining milk supply.

Infants & children:
Not recommended.

Prolonged use:

• Habit forming.
• May impair blood-cell production.
• Kidney damage. Periodic kidney-function test recommended.

Skin & sunlight:
Aspirin combined with sunscreen may decrease sunburn.

Driving, piloting or hazardous work:
Don't drive or pilot aircraft until you learn how medicine affects you. Don't work around dangerous machinery. Don't climb ladders or work in high places. Danger increases if you drink alcohol or take medicine affecting alertness and reflexes, such as antihistamines, tranquilizers, sedatives, pain medicine, narcotics and mind-altering drugs.

Discontinuing:
Don't discontinue without consulting doctor. Dose may require gradual reduction if you have taken drug for a long time. Doses of other drugs may also require adjustment.

Others:

• Aspirin can complicate surgery; illness; pregnancy, labor and delivery.
• Urine tests for blood sugar may be inaccurate.

Possible Interaction with Other Drugs

GENERIC NAME	COMBINED EFFECT
------------------------	-----------------------
Acebutolol	Decreased antihypertensive effect
	of acebutolol.
ACE inhibitors*:	Decreased effect of
captopril, enalapril,	inhibitors.
Allopurinol	Decreased allopurinol effect.
Antacids*	Decreased aspirin effect.
Anticoagulants*	Increased anticoagulant effect.
	Abnormal bleeding.
Anticonvulsants*	Change in seizure pattern.
Antidepressants,	Increased anti-
tricyclic (TCA)*	depressant effect.
Antidiabetics, oral*	Low blood sugar.
Aspirin, other	Likely aspirin toxicity.
Bumetanide	Possible aspirin toxicity.
Contraceptives,	Decreased contraceptive
oral*	effect.
Cortisone drugs*	Increased cortisone effect. Risk of
	ulcers and stomach bleeding.
Dronabinol	Increased effect of both drugs.
Estrogens*	Decreased estrogen effect.
Ethacrynic acid	Possible aspirin toxicity.
Furosemide	Possible aspirin toxicity. May
	decrease furosemide effect.
Gold compounds*	Increased likelihood of kidney
	damage.
Indomethacin	Risk of stomach bleeding and
	ulcers.
MAO inhibitors*	Increased meprobamate effect.
Methotrexate	Increased methotrexate effect.
Minoxidil	Decreased minoxidil effect.
Narcotics*	Increased narcotic effect.
Non-steroidal	Risk of stomach
anti-inflammatory	bleeding and ulcers.
Oxprenolol	Decreased antihypertensive effect
	of oxprenolol.
Para-aminosalicylic	Possible aspirin
acid (PAS)	toxicity.
Penicillins*	Increased effect of both drugs.
Phenobarbital	Decreased aspirin effect.
Phenytoin	Increased phenytoin effect.
Probenecid	Decreased probenecid effect.
Propranolol	Decreased aspirin effect.
Rauwolfia alkaloids*	Decreased aspirin effect.
Salicylates, other*	Likely aspirin toxicity.
Sedatives*	Increased sedative effect.
Sleep inducers*	Increased effect of sleep inducer.
Spironolactone	Decreased spironolactone effect.
Sulfinpyrazone	Decreased sulfinpyrazone effect.
Terfenadine	Possible excessive sedation. May
	conceal symptoms of aspirin
	overdose, such as ringing in ears.
Tranquilizers*	Increased tranquilizer effect.
Vancomycin	Increased chance of hearing loss.
Vitamin C	Possible aspirin
(large doses)	toxicity.

Possible Interaction with Other Substances

INTERACTS WITH	COMBINED EFFECT
---------------	---------------
Alcohol:	Possible stomach irritation and
	bleeding. Dangerous increased
	effect of meprobamate. Avoid.
Caffeine drinks.	Decreased calming effect of
	meprobamate.
Cocaine:	Decreased meprobamate effect.
Foods:	None expected.
Marijuana:	Possible increased pain relief, but
	marijuana may slow body's recovery.
	Avoid.
Tobacco:	None expected.