METHYSERGIDE

Brand & Generic Names

Sansert

Basic Information

• Habit forming? Yes
• Prescription needed? Yes
• Available as generic? No
• Drug class: Vasoconstrictor

Uses

Prevents migraine and other recurring vascular headaches. Not for acute attack.

Dosage & Usage Information

How to take:
Tablet--Swallow with liquid or with food to lessen stomach irritation. If you can't swallow whole, crumble tablet and take with liquid or food.

When to take:
At the same times each day.

If you forget a dose:
Don't take missed dose. Wait for next scheduled dose (don't double this dose).

What drug does:
Blocks the action of serotonin, a chemical that constricts blood vessels.

Time lapse before drug works:
About 3 weeks.

Don't take with:
Any other medicine without consulting your doctor or pharmacist.

Overdose

SYMPTOMS:
Nausea, vomiting, abdominal pain, severe diarrhea, lack of coordination, extreme thirst.

WHAT TO DO:

Overdose unlikely to threaten life. If person takes much larger amount than prescribed, call doctor, poison-control center or hospital emergency room for instructions.

Possible Adverse Reactions or Side Effects

Life-threatening:

In case of overdose, see Overdose section.

Common:

• Itchy skin.
• Nausea, vomiting, diarrhea, numbness or tingling of extremities, leg weakness, abdominal pain.
• Drowsiness, constipation.

Infrequent:

• Anxiety, agitation, hallucinations, unusually fast or slow heartbeat, dizziness.
• Change in vision, nightmares, insomnia.

Rare:

• Extreme thirst, chest pain, shortness of breath, fever, pale or swollen extremities, leg cramps, lower back pain, side or groin pain, appetite loss, joint and muscle pain, rash, facial flush.
• Painful or difficult urination.
• Weight change, hair loss.

Warnings & Precautions

Don't take if:

• You are allergic to any antiserotonin*.
• You plan to become pregnant within medication period.
• You have an infection.
• You have a heart or blood vessel disease.
• You have a chronic lung disease.
• You have a collagen (connective tissue) disorder.
• You have impaired liver or kidney function.

Before you start, consult your doctor:

• If you have been allergic to any ergot preparation.
• If you have had a peptic ulcer.

Over age 60:
Adverse reactions and side effects may be more frequent and severe than in younger persons.

Pregnancy:
Manufacturer suggests risk to unborn child outweighs drug benefits, even though studies are inconclusive. Consult doctor.

Breast-feeding:
Drug probably passes into milk. Avoid drug or discontinue nursing until you finish medicine. Consult doctor for advice on maintaining milk supply.

Infants & children:
Not recommended.

Prolonged use:

• May cause fibrosis, a condition in which scar tissue is deposited on heart valves, in lung tissue, blood vessels and internal organs. After 6 months, decrease dose over 2 to 3 weeks. Then discontinue for at least 2 months for re-evaluation.
• Talk to your doctor about the need for follow-up medical examinations or laboratory studies to check retroperitoneal imaging*.

Skin & sunlight:
No problems expected.

Driving, piloting or hazardous work:
Avoid if you feel drowsy or dizzy. Otherwise, no problems expected.

Discontinuing:

• Don't discontinue without consulting doctor. Dose may require gradual reduction if you have taken drug for a long time. Doses of other drugs may also require adjustment.
• Probably should discontinue drug if you don't improve after 3 weeks use.

Others:

• Periodic laboratory tests for liver function and blood counts recommended.
• Potential for abuse.
• Some products contain tartrazine dye. Avoid, especially if you are allergic to aspirin.

Possible Interaction with Other Drugs

GENERIC NAME	COMBINED EFFECT
------------------------	-----------------------
Ergot preparations*	Unpredictable increased or
	decreased effect of either drug.
Narcotics*	Decreased narcotic effect.

Possible Interaction with Other Substances

INTERACTS WITH	COMBINED EFFECT
---------------	---------------
Alcohol:	None expected. However, alcohol may
	trigger a migraine headache.
Caffeine drinks.	Decreased methysergide effect.
Cocaine:	May make headache worse.
Foods:	None expected. Avoid foods to which
	you are allergic.
Marijuana:	No proven problems.
Tobacco:	Blood-vessel constriction. Makes
	headache worse.