methergine

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 3 to 4 times daily for up to 1 week after delivery or as directed by your doctor. Dosage is based on your medical condition and response to treatment. Use this medication regularly to get the most benefit from it. To help you remember, take it at the same times each day. Avoid eating grapefruit or drinking grapefruit juice while using this medication unless your doctor instructs you otherwise. Grapefruit can increase the amount of this medication in your bloodstream. Consult your doctor or pharmacist for more details. Tell your doctor if your condition persists or worsens.

See also How to Use section. The effects of some drugs can change if you take other drugs or herbal products at the same time. This can increase your risk for serious side effects or may cause your medications not to work correctly. These drug interactions are possible, but do not always occur. Your doctor or pharmacist can often prevent or manage interactions by changing how you use your medications or by close monitoring. To help your doctor and pharmacist give you the best care, be sure to tell your doctor and pharmacist about all the products you use (including prescription drugs, nonprescription drugs, and herbal products) before starting treatment with this product. While using this product, do not start, stop, or change the dosage of any other medicines you are using without your doctor's approval. Some products that may interact with this drug include: other ergot alkaloids (such as ergotamine, dihydroergotamine), "triptan" migraine medications (such as eletriptan, rizatriptan, sumatriptan). Other medications can affect the removal of methylergonovine from your body, which may affect how methylergonovine works. Examples include azole antifungals (such as itraconazole, ketoconazole), macrolide antibiotics (such as erythromycin, clarithromycin), HIV protease inhibitors (such as ritonavir), HIV NNRTI's (such as delavirdine, efavirenz), among others. This document does not contain all possible drug interactions. Keep a list of all the products you use. Share this list with your doctor and pharmacist to lessen your risk for serious medication problems.

Do not share this medication with others. Laboratory and/or medical tests (such as blood pressure measurements) may be performed periodically to monitor your progress or check for side effects. Consult your doctor for more details.

If overdose is suspected, contact a local poison control center or emergency room immediately. US residents can call the US National Poison Hotline at 1-800-222-1222. Canada residents should call a provincial poison control center. Symptoms of overdose may include: severe headache, severe dizziness, seizures, slow/shallow breathing, numbness/tingling of arms/legs.

Before taking methylergonovine, tell your doctor or pharmacist if you are allergic to it; or to similar ergot alkaloids (such as ergonovine); 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. Before using this medication, tell your doctor or pharmacist your medical history, especially of: kidney disease, liver disease, high blood pressure, heart disease (such as venoatrial shunts, mitral valve stenosis), blood vessel disease (such as Raynaud's disease), complications during pregnancy (such as preeclampsia, eclampsia). This drug may make you dizzy. Do not drive, use machinery, or do any activity that requires alertness until you are sure you can perform such activities safely. Limit alcoholic beverages. This medication must not be used during pregnancy. It may harm an unborn baby. Consult your doctor for more details. This medication passes into breast milk, but is unlikely to harm a nursing infant. Consult your doctor before breast-feeding.

Store at room temperature below 77 degrees F (25 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.

Headache, nausea, vomiting, or dizziness may occur. If any of these effects persist or worsen, tell your doctor or pharmacist promptly. 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 rare but serious side effects occur: fast/slow heartbeat, shortness of breath, cold hands/feet, pain/redness/swelling of arms or legs. Seek immediate medical attention if any of these rare but serious side effects occur: chest pain, vision changes, confusion, seizures. A very serious allergic reaction to this drug is rare. However, seek immediate medical attention if you notice any symptoms of a serious allergic reaction, including: 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.