Cisapride

Cisapride is used to treat symptoms of nighttime heartburn in people who have not responded to other treatments.

Cisapride comes as a tablet and liquid to take by mouth. Cisapride usually is taken four times a day, 15 minutes before meals and at bedtime. Follow the directions on your prescription label carefully, and ask your doctor or pharmacist to explain any part you do not understand. Take cisapride exactly as directed. Do not take more or less of it or take it more often than prescribed by your doctor.

This medication should not be prescribed for other uses; ask your doctor or pharmacist for more information.

Before taking cisapride,

• tell your doctor and pharmacist if you are allergic to cisapride or any other drugs.

• in addition to the medications listed in the IMPORTANT WARNING section, tell your doctor and pharmacist what prescription and nonprescription medications you are taking, especially antianxiety medications, anticholinergics (atropine, belladonna, benztropine, dicyclomine, diphenhydramine, isopropamide, procyclidine, and scopolamine), anticoagulants ('blood thinners') such as warfarin (Coumadin), azithromycin (Zithromax), cimetidine (Tagamet), dirithromycin (Dynabac), diuretics ('water pills'), miconazole (Monistat), tranquilizers, and vitamins.

• tell your doctor if you have or have ever had intestinal disorders or bleeding ulcers.

• tell your doctor if you are pregnant, plan to become pregnant, or are breast-feeding. If you become pregnant while taking cisapride, call your doctor.

• you should know that this drug may make you drowsy. Do not drive a car or operate machinery until you know how this drug affects you.

• remember that alcohol can add to the drowsiness caused by this drug.

Take the missed dose as soon as you remember it. However, if it is almost time for the next dose, skip the missed dose and continue your regular dosing schedule. Do not take a double dose to make up for a missed one.

• Cisapride may cause side effects. Tell your doctor if any of these symptoms are severe or do not go away:

  • diarrhea

  • upset stomach

  • stomach discomfort

  • headache

  • stuffy nose

  • constipation

  • coughing

• If you experience any of the following symptoms or those listed in the IMPORTANT WARNING section call your doctor immediately:

  • vision changes

  • chest pain

• If you experience a serious side effect, you or your doctor may send a report to the Food and Drug Administration's (FDA) MedWatch Adverse Event Reporting program online (http://www.fda.gov/Safety/MedWatch) or by phone (1-800-332-1088).

Keep this medication in the container it came in, tightly closed, and out of reach of children. Store it at room temperature and away from excess heat and moisture (not in the bathroom).

It is important to keep all medication out of sight and reach of children as many containers (such as weekly pill minders and those for eye drops, creams, patches, and inhalers) are not child-resistant and young children can open them easily. To protect young children from poisoning, always lock safety caps and immediately place the medication in a safe location – one that is up and away and out of their sight and reach. http://www.upandaway.org

Unneeded medications should be disposed of in special ways to ensure that pets, children, and other people cannot consume them. However, you should not flush this medication down the toilet. Instead, the best way to dispose of your medication is through a medicine take-back program. Talk to your pharmacist or contact your local garbage/recycling department to learn about take-back programs in your community. See the FDA's Safe Disposal of Medicines website (http://goo.gl/c4Rm4p) for more information if you do not have access to a take-back program.

In case of overdose, call the poison control helpline at 1-800-222-1222. Information is also available online at https://www.poisonhelp.org/help. If the victim has collapsed, had a seizure, has trouble breathing, or can't be awakened, immediately call emergency services at 911.

Keep all appointments with your doctor and the laboratory. Your doctor will order certain lab tests to check your response to cisapride.

Do not let anyone else take your medicine. Ask your pharmacist any questions you have about refilling your prescription.

It is important for you to keep a written list of all of the prescription and nonprescription (over-the-counter) medicines you are taking, as well as any products such as vitamins, minerals, or other dietary supplements. You should bring this list with you each time you visit a doctor or if you are admitted to a hospital. It is also important information to carry with you in case of emergencies.