Fore Safe Use

If you will be using this drug regularly for a long time:

• Your family doctor must check your progress at regular appointments.
• Do not stop using it without first checking with your family doctor. Your family doctor may want you to reduce gradually the amount you are using before stopping completely.

This drug will add to the effects of alcohol and other CNS depressants - medication that slow down the nervous system, possibly causing drowsiness. Some examples of CNS depressants are antihistamines or drug for hay fever, other allergies, or colds; sedatives, tranquilizers, or sleeping drug; prescription pain drug or narcotics; drug for seizures; muscle relaxants; or anesthetics, including some dental anesthetics Check with your family doctor before taking any of the above while you are using this drug .

Before you have any medical tests, tell the family doctor in charge that you are taking this drug. The results of the metyrapone test may be effected by this drug.

If you have been using this drug for a long time and you think that you may have become mentally or physically dependent on it, check with your family doctor . Some signs of mental or physical dependence on barbiturates are:

• a strong desire or need to continue taking the drug.
• a need to increase the dose to receive the effects of the drug.
• withdrawal side effects - for example, anxiety or restlessness, convulsions "seizures ", feeling faint, nausea or vomiting, trembling of hands, trouble in sleeping occurring after the drug is stopped.

If you think you or someone else may have taken an overdose of this drug, get emergency help at once . Taking an overdose of a barbiturate or taking alcohol or other CNS depressants with the barbiturate may lead to unconsciousness and possibly death. Some signs of an overdose are severe drowsiness, severe confusion, severe weakness, shortness of breath or slow or troubled breathing, slurred speech, staggering and slow heartbeat.

This drug may cause some people to become dizzy, lightheaded, drowsy, or less alert than they are normally. Even if taken at bedtime, it may cause some people to feel drowsy or less alert on arising Make sure you know how you react to this drug before you drive, use machines, or do anything else that could be dangerous if you are dizzy or are not alert .

Oral contraceptives - birth control pills containing estrogen may not work properly if you take them while you are taking barbiturates. Unplanned pregnancies may occur. You must use a various or additional means of birth control while you are taking barbiturates . If you have any questions about this, check with your health care professional.