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View more items in " Sleeping Pills" category... How does it work?
Mogadon tablets contain the active ingredient Nitrazepam, which is a type of medicine called a benzodiazepine. (NB. Nitrazepam is also available without a brand name, i.e. as the generic medicine.) Nitrazepam works by acting on receptors in the brain called GABA receptors. This causes the release of a neurotransmitter called GABA in the brain.
Neurotransmitters are chemicals that are stored in nerve cells in the brain and nervous system. They are involved in transmitting messages between the nerve cells. GABA is a neurotransmitter that acts as a natural 'nerve-calming' agent. It helps keep the nerve activity in the brain in balance, and is involved in inducing sleepiness, reducing anxiety and relaxing muscles.
As Nitrazepam increases the activity of GABA in the brain, it increases its calming effect and results in sleepiness, a decrease in anxiety and relaxation of muscles.
Nitrazepam is used for the short-term treatment of severe insomnia. It decreases the time taken to fall asleep and nocturnal awakenings, as well as increasing the total amount of time spent sleeping. However, it is only suitable for short-term treatment of insomnia as it has a high potential for dependence and addiction. As Nitrazepam remains active in the body for many hours, drowsiness may also last into the next day.
What is it used for?
* Short-term (two to four weeks only) treatment of severe insomnia that is disabling or subjecting the individual to extreme distress.
* This medicine is generally only suitable for short-term use. If it is used for long periods or in high doses, tolerance to and dependence upon the medicine may develop, and withdrawal symptoms such as headaches, muscle pain, rebound insomnia, anxiety, restlessness, confusion, sweating, irritability or convulsions may then occur if treatment is stopped suddenly. Your body may also become tolerant to the medicine, with higher doses needed to achieve the same effect. For this reason, you should not exceed the dose of this medicine prescribed by your doctor, or take it for longer than recommended. If you are still having trouble sleeping after these time you should consult your doctor for further advice.
* Treatment with this medicine should usually be stopped gradually, following the instructions given by your doctor, in order to avoid withdrawal symptoms and a return in your sleeping problems.
Use with caution in
* Elderly people.
* Weak or debilitated people.
* Decreased kidney function.
* Decreased liver function.
* Respiratory diseases.
* Hereditary blood disorders.
* History of alcoholism or drug abuse.
* Personality disorders.
* Depression.
Not to be used in
* Children.
* Allergy to benzodiazepines.
* A sudden worsening of any underlying lung disease (acute respiratory insufficiency).
* Slow, shallow breathing (respiratory depression).
* Syndrome involving short spells when breathing stops during sleep
* Severely decreased liver function.
* Long-term psychotic illness.
* Phobias.
* Abnormal muscle weakness (myasthenia gravis).
* Breastfeeding.
This medicine should not be used if you are allergic to one or any of its ingredients. Please inform your doctor or pharmacist if you have previously experienced such an allergy.
If you feel you have experienced an allergic reaction, stop using this medicine and inform your doctor or pharmacist immediately.
Mogadon 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. Just because a side effect is stated here does not mean that all people using this medicine will experience that or any side effect.
* Drowsiness.
* Drowsiness and lightheadedness the next day.
* Confusion.
* Visual disturbances such as blurred vision or double vision.
* Shaky movements and unsteady walk (ataxia).
* Loss of memory (amnesia).
* Muscle weakness.
* Dizziness.
* Headache.
* Numbed emotions.
* Skin rashes.
* Disturbances of the gut such as diarrhea, constipation, nausea, vomiting or abdominal pain.
* Difficulty in passing urine (urinary retention).
* Changes in sex drive.
* Low blood pressure (hypotension).
* Blood disorders.
* Jaundice.
* Unexpected aggression, restlessness or irritability (tell your doctor if you experience this).
* Nightmares or hallucinations (tell your doctor if you experience this).
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 make sure that the combination is safe.
The following medicines may prevent the breakdown of Nitrazepam in the body. As this could increase the blood level of Nitrazepam and its sedative effects, as well as the risk of its side effects, your doctor may need to prescribe you a lower than normal dose of Nitrazepam if you are taking any of these medicines:
* Cimetidine
* Disulfiram
* Fluoxetine
The following medicines may decrease the blood level of Nitrazepam. As this could make it less effective, your doctor may need to prescribe you a larger than normal dose of Nitrazepam if you are taking any of these medicines:
* Phenytoin
* Rifampicin.
Caffeine and theophylline may reduce the sedative effects of Nitrazepam.
Nitrazepam may increase or decrease blood levels of the anticonvulsant medicine phenytoin.
What side effects are possible with this medication?
Many medications can cause side effects. A side effect is an unwanted response to a medication when it is taken in normal doses. Side effects can be mild or severe, temporary or permanent. The side effects listed below are not experienced by everyone who takes this medication. If you are concerned about side effects, discuss the risks and benefits of this medication with your doctor.
The following side effects have been reported by at least 1% of people taking this medication.
Many of these side effects can be managed, and some may go away on their own over time.
Contact your doctor if you experience these side effects and they are severe or bothersome.
Your pharmacist may be able to advise you on managing side effects.
* Abdominal or stomach cramps or pain
* Blurred vision or other changes in vision
* Changes in sexual desire or ability
* Clumsiness or unsteadiness
* Constipation
* Diarrhea
* Dizziness or lightheadedness
* Drowsiness
* Dry mouth
* False sense of well-being
* Headache
* Heartburn or upset stomach
* increased or watering of mouth
* Muscle spasm
* Nausea or vomiting
* Problems with urination
* slurred speech
* Thirst
* Trembling or shaking
* Unusual tiredness or weakness
* Vivid dreams
Although most of the side effects listed below don't happen very often, they could lead to serious problems if you do not check with your doctor or seek medical attention.
Check with your doctor as soon as possible if any of the following side effects occur:
* Abnormal thinking (disorientation, delusions, or loss of sense of reality)
* Agitation
* Anxiety
* Behavioral changes, including:
Aggressiveness
Angry outbursts
Bizarre behavior
Decreased inhibitions
* Confusion
* Depression
* Fast, pounding, or irregular heartbeat
* feeling faint
* Hallucinations
* Memory problems
* Muscle weakness
* Shortness of breath
* Signs of decreased liver function (abdominal pain, muscle pain, skin rash or itching, yellow
Eyes or skin)
* Signs of infection (sore throat, fever, and chills, ulcers or sores in mouth or throat)
* Signs of unusual bleeding (bloody or black, tarry stools, vomiting of blood or material that
Looks like coffee grounds, blood in urine)
* Trouble sleeping
* Uncontrolled movements of body, including the eyes
* Unusual excitement, nervousness, or irritability
* Unusual tiredness or weakness (severe)
Stop taking the medication and seek immediate medical attention if any of the following occur:
* Convulsions (seizures)
* Signs of a serious allergic reaction (i.e., abdominal cramps, difficulty breathing, nausea and
Vomiting or swelling of the face and throat)
Some people may experience side effects other than those listed. Check with your doctor if you
Notice any symptom that worries you while you are taking this medication.
Overdose
When taken alone in overdosage Mogadon presents few problems in management and should not present a threat to life unless combined with other CNS depressants (including alcohol).
In the management of overdose with any medicinal product, it should be borne in mind that multiple agents may have been taken.
Following overdose with oral benzodiazepines, vomiting should be induced (within one hour) if the patient is conscious undertaken with the airway protected if the patient is unconscious. If there is no advantage in emptying the stomach, activated charcoal should be given to reduce absorption.
Special attention should be paid to respiratory and cardiovascular functions in intensive care. Over dosage of benzodiazepines is usually manifested by degrees of central nervous system depression ranging from drowsiness to coma. In mild cases, symptoms include drowsiness, mental confusion, dysarthria and lethargy; in more serious cases, symptoms may include ataxia, hypotension, respiratory depression, rarely coma and very rarely death.
The value of dialysis has not been determined. Anexate is a specific IV antidote for use in emergency situations. Patients requiring such intervention should be monitored closely in hospital. The benzodiazepine antagonist Anexate (active ingredient; flumazenil) is not indicated in patients with epilepsy who have been treated with benzodiazepines. Antagonism of the benzodiazepine effect in such patients may trigger seizures.
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