Bellaspas

This medication is used to relieve symptoms related to nervousness and tension. This includes unpleasant menopausal signs (such as hot flashes or flushes, sweats, restlessness, trouble sleeping), heart/blood vessel disorders (such as fast/pounding heartbeat), stomach/intestinal disorders (such as spasms), and throbbing headaches that occur often. Ergotamine and belladonna work by blocking certain chemicals (e.g., acetylcholine) in the nervous system to help relieve these symptoms. Phenobarbital helps to calm and relax the body.

If you miss a dose, take it as soon as you remember. If it is near the time of the next dose, skip the missed dose and resume your usual dosing schedule. Do not double the dose to catch up.

Take this medication by mouth with or without food, usually twice daily (once in the morning and once in the evening) or as directed by your doctor. Dosage is based on your medical condition and response to therapy. This medication should be taken only as needed. It is not meant for long-term daily use. The maximum dose is 16 tablets in any 7-day period. This medication may cause withdrawal reactions, especially if it has been used regularly for a long time or in high doses. In such cases, withdrawal symptoms (such as nausea/vomiting, mental/mood changes, muscle twitching, seizures) may occur if you suddenly stop using this medication. To prevent withdrawal reactions, your doctor may reduce your dose gradually. Consult your doctor or pharmacist for more details, and report any withdrawal reactions immediately. Rarely, abnormal drug-seeking behavior (addiction) is possible with this medication. Do not increase your dose, take it more frequently, or use it for a longer time than prescribed. Properly stop the medication when so directed. When used for an extended period, this medication may not work as well and may require different dosing. Talk with your doctor if this medication stops working well. Avoid eating grapefruit or drinking grapefruit juice while being treated with this medication unless your doctor instructs you otherwise. Grapefruit can increase the amount of certain medications in your bloodstream. Consult your doctor or pharmacist for more details. Inform your doctor if your condition persists or worsens.

See also How to Use section. Your doctor or pharmacist may already be aware of any possible drug interactions and may be monitoring you for them. Do not start, stop, or change the dosage of any medicine before checking with your doctor or pharmacist first. This drug should not be used with the following medications because very serious interactions may occur: azole antifungals (e.g., ketoconazole, itraconazole, voriconazole), delavirdine, efavirenz, etravirine, macrolide antibiotics (e.g., erythromycin, clarithromycin), pramlintide, protease inhibitors (e.g., amprenavir, indinavir, nelfinavir, ritonavir, saquinavir), sibutramine, sodium oxybate. If you are currently using any of these medications listed above, tell your doctor or pharmacist before starting this medication. Before using this medication, tell your doctor or pharmacist of all prescription and nonprescription/herbal products you may use, especially of: antihistamines (e.g., diphenhydramine, meclizine), antispasmodics (e.g., atropine, dicyclomine), certain antiarrhythmic drugs (e.g., quinidine, procainamide), certain beta blockers (e.g., propranolol), certain drugs for Parkinson's disease (e.g., levodopa, benztropine, trihexyphenidyl), corticosteroids (e.g., prednisone), cyclosporine, disulfiram, dopamine, drugs affecting liver enzymes that remove ergotamine from your body (such as fluoxetine, fluvoxamine, metronidazole, nefazodone, zileuton), MAO inhibitors (e.g., furazolidone, isocarboxazid, linezolid, moclobemide, phenelzine, procarbazine, rasagiline, selegiline, tranylcypromine), nicotine (e.g., nicotine gum, nicotine patches), nitrates (e.g., isosorbide, nitroglycerin), other ergot alkaloids (e.g., methysergide), phenothiazines (e.g., promethazine, chlorpromazine), potassium tablets/capsules, tricyclic antidepressants (e.g., amitriptyline), St John's wort, valproic acid, warfarin. If you also take "triptan" migraine drugs (e.g., sumatriptan, rizatriptan), you will need to separate your "triptan" dose from your dose of this medication to reduce the risk of serious side effects. Ask your doctor how long you should wait between your doses of these drugs. This drug can speed up the removal of other drugs from your body by affecting certain liver enzymes. These affected drugs include certain calcium channel blockers (e.g., felodipine, nimodipine), certain cancer drugs (e.g., erlotinib, sunitinib), griseofulvin, theophylline, corticosteroids (e.g., prednisone), estrogens, doxycycline, exemestane. Tell your doctor or pharmacist if you also take drugs that cause drowsiness such as: anti-seizure drugs (e.g., phenytoin), medicine for sleep or anxiety (e.g., alprazolam, diazepam, zolpidem), muscle relaxants, narcotic pain relievers (e.g., codeine), psychiatric medicines (e.g., haloperidol, risperidone, trazodone). Check the labels on all your medicines (e.g., cough-and-cold products) because they may contain drowsiness-causing ingredients or ingredients that could increase your heart rate or blood pressure. Ask your pharmacist about the safe use of those products. This medication may decrease the effectiveness of combination-type birth control pills. This can result in pregnancy. Ask your doctor or pharmacist for details. Discuss whether you should use additional reliable birth control methods while taking any of these drugs. This document does not contain all possible interactions. Therefore, before using this product, tell your doctor or pharmacist of all the products you use. Keep a list of all your medications with you, and share the list with your doctor and pharmacist.

Do not share this medication with others.

If overdose is suspected, contact your local poison control center or emergency room immediately. US residents can call the US National Poison Hotline at 1-800-222-1222. Canada residents can call a provincial poison control center. Symptoms of overdose may include severe dizziness/drowsiness, loss of feeling in the fingers/toes, bluish hands/feet, slow/fast/irregular heartbeat, mental/mood changes, hot/dry skin, seizures.

Before taking this medication, tell your doctor or pharmacist if you are allergic to phenobarbital, ergotamine, or belladonna; or to other ergot alkaloids (e.g., dihydroergotamine); or to other barbiturates (e.g., pentobarbital); or to other belladonna alkaloids (e.g., atropine); or if you have any other allergies. This product may contain inactive ingredients, which can cause allergic reactions or other problems. Talk to your pharmacist for more details. This medication should not be used if you have certain medical conditions. Before using this medicine, consult your doctor or pharmacist if you have: blood circulation disease (e.g., peripheral vascular disease such as arteriosclerosis, thrombophlebitis, Raynaud's disease), uncontrolled high blood pressure, nutrient deficiency (malnutrition), heart/blood vessel disease (e.g., coronary artery disease, stroke, recent heart attack), liver disease, kidney disease, severe infection, severe itching, severe breathing problems, a certain eye disease (glaucoma), a certain enzyme disorder (porphyria). Before using this medication, tell your doctor or pharmacist your medical history, especially of: smoking, diabetes, high blood pressure (controlled), trouble urinating, lung disease (e.g., asthma), drug/alcohol abuse, mental/mood disorders (e.g., depression, history of suicide attempt), uncontrolled pain, myasthenia gravis, stomach/esophagus problems (e.g., ulcers, GERD), seizures, bowel disease/infection (e.g., paralytic ileus), overactive thyroid (hyperthyroidism). This drug may make you dizzy or drowsy or cause blurred vision. Do not drive, use machinery, or do any activity that requires alertness or clear vision until you are sure you can perform such activities safely. Avoid alcoholic beverages. This medication can decrease sweating. To prevent heatstroke, avoid becoming overheated in hot weather, in saunas, and during exercise/other strenuous activities. Before having surgery, tell your doctor or dentist that you are using this medication. This medication may harm an unborn baby. Therefore, it must not be used during pregnancy. It is recommended that men and women use two effective forms of birth control (e.g., condoms, diaphragms with spermicide) while taking this medication. If you become pregnant or think you may be pregnant, inform your doctor immediately. Consult your doctor for more details and to discuss reliable forms of birth control. (See also Drug Interactions.) This medication passes into breast milk and may have undesirable effects on a nursing infant. This medication may also slow or stop milk production. Do not breast-feed while using this drug.

Store at room temperature between 59-86 degrees F (15-30 degrees C) away from light and moisture. Do not store in the bathroom. Keep all medicines away from children and pets. Do not flush medications down the toilet or pour them into a drain unless instructed to do so. Properly discard this product when it is expired or no longer needed. Consult your pharmacist or local waste disposal company for more details about how to safely discard your product.

Dizziness, drowsiness, blurred vision, dry mouth, constipation, nausea/vomiting, and decreased sweating may occur. If any of these effects persist or worsen, tell your doctor or pharmacist promptly. To relieve dry mouth, suck on (sugarless) hard candy or ice chips, chew (sugarless) gum, drink water, or use a saliva substitute. Remember that your doctor has prescribed this medication because he or she has judged that the benefit to you is greater than the risk of side effects. Many people using this medication do not have serious side effects. Tell your doctor immediately if any of these unlikely but serious side effects occur: slow/fast/irregular heartbeat, signs of infection (e.g., fever, persistent sore throat), easy bruising/bleeding, difficulty urinating, mental/mood changes, tingling/pain/coldness in the fingers/toes, whitish fingers/toes/nails, loss of feeling in the fingers/toes, bluish hands/feet, muscle pain/weakness, severe stomach/abdominal pain, lower back pain, eye pain/redness. Seek immediate medical attention if any of these rare but very serious side effects occur: chest pain, vision changes, confusion, slurred speech. A very serious allergic reaction to this drug is unlikely, but seek immediate medical attention if it occurs. Symptoms of a serious allergic reaction may include: rash, itching/swelling (especially of the face/tongue/throat), severe dizziness, trouble breathing. This is not a complete list of possible side effects. If you notice other effects not listed above, contact your doctor or pharmacist. In the US - Call your doctor for medical advice about side effects. You may report side effects to FDA at 1-800-FDA-1088. In Canada - Call your doctor for medical advice about side effects. You may report side effects to Health Canada at 1-866-234-2345.