Vallergan

Side effects

Medicines and their possible side effects can affect individual people in different ways. The following are some of the side effects that are known to be associated with this medicine. Because a side effect is stated here, it does not mean that all people using this medicine will experience that or any side effect.

Drowsiness

Nasal congestion

Dry mouth

Difficulty sleeping (insomnia)

Agitation

Low blood pressure (hypotension)

A drop in blood pressure that occurs when going from lying down to sitting or standing, which results in dizziness and lightheadedness (postural hypotension)

Abnormal reaction of the skin to light, usually a rash (photosensitivity)

Abnormal heart beats (arrhythmias)

Impotence

High blood prolactin (milk producing hormone) level (hyperprolactinaemia). Sometimes this can lead to symptoms such as breast enlargement, production of milk and stopping of menstrual periods.

Restlessness

Abnormal movements of the hands, legs, face, neck and tongue, eg tremor, twitching, rigidity

Yellowing of the skin and eyes (jaundice)

Slow, shallow breathing (respiratory depression)

Rhythmical involuntary movement of the tongue, face, mouth and jaw, which may sometimes be accompanied by involuntary movements of the arms and legs (tardive dyskinesia)

High temperature combined with falling levels of consciousness, paleness, sweating and a fast heart beat (neuroleptic malignant syndrome). Requires stopping the medicine and immediate medical treatment.

The side effects listed above may not include all of the side effects reported by the drug's manufacturer. For more information about any other possible risks associated with this medicine, please read the information provided with the medicine or consult your doctor or pharmacist.

How can this medicine affect other medicines?

It is important to tell your doctor or pharmacist what medicines you are already taking, including those bought without a prescription and herbal medicines, before you start treatment with this medicine. Similarly, check with your doctor or pharmacist before taking any new medicines while taking this one, to ensure that the combination is safe.

There may be an increased risk of drowsiness and sedation if this medicine is taken with any of the following (which can also cause drowsiness):

alcohol

antipsychotics, eg haloperidol

barbiturates, eg phenobarbital, amobarbital

benzodiazepines, eg diazepam, temazepam

opioids, eg morphine, codeine

other sedating antihistamines, eg chlorphenamine, hydroxyzine

sleeping tablets, eg zopiclone

tricyclic antidepressants, eg amitriptyline.

There may be an increased risk of side effects such as dry mouth, blurred vision, urine retention and constipation if alimemazine is taken with anticholinergic medicines that can cause these type of side effects, such as the following:

anticholinergic medicines for Parkinson's symptoms, eg procyclidine, orphenadrine, trihexiphenidyl

anticholinergic medicines for urinary incontinence, eg tolterodine, oxybutynin,

antipsychotics, eg chlorpromazine, clozapine

antispasmodics, eg hyoscine, atropine

MAOI antidepressants, eg phenelzine, moclobemide

tricyclic antidepressants, eg amitriptyline, imipramine.

This medicine may enhance the blood pressure lowering effect of medicines used to treat high blood pressure (antihypertensives), in particular alpha-blocker medicines such as prazosin. (NB alpha blockers are also used to treat the symptoms of an enlarged prostate gland). If you are taking medicines for high blood pressure tell your doctor if you feel faint or dizzy after starting treatment with this medicine, as your doses may need adjusting.

Other medicines containing the same active ingredient

There are currently no other medicines available in the UK that contain alimemazine as the active ingredient.

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