Arpicolin 2.5mg/5ml Oral Syrup
procyclidine hydrochloride
Read all of this leaflet carefully before you start taking this medicine.
- Keep this leaflet. You may need to read it again.
- If you have further questions, ask your doctor or your pharmacist.
- This medicine has been prescribed only for you. Do not pass it on to others. It may harm them, even if their symptoms are the same as yours.
- If any of these side effects gets serious, or if you notice any side effects not listed in this leaflet, please tell your doctor or pharmacist.
In this leaflet
- 1. What is Arpicolin and what is it used for
- 2. Before you take Arpicolin
- 3. How to take Arpicolin
- 4. Possible side effects
- 5. How to store Arpicolin
- 6. Further information
What is Arpicolin and what is it used for
The name of your medicine is Arpicolin 2.5mg/5ml Oral Syrup. It contains procyclidine hydrochloride. This belongs to a group of medicines called anticholinergics.
Procyclidine can be used for the symptoms of Parkinsonism (usually slow movement, muscle stiffness and shaking fingers). These symptoms can be caused by Parkinson’s Disease, but there are other causes as well.
Before you take Arpicolin
Do not take Arpicolin and tell your doctor if:
- You are allergic (hypersensitive) to procyclidine hydrochloride or any other ingredients in this liquid (see section 6: Further Information). An allergic reaction can include a rash, itching or shortness of breath
- You have difficulty passing water (urine)
- You have a blockage in the stomach or bowel
- You have glaucoma (increased pressure in the eye)
Do not take this medicine if any of the above apply to you. If you are not sure, talk to your doctor or pharmacist before taking Arpicolin.
Take special care with Arpicolin
Before you take procyclidine, tell your doctor if:
- You have an enlarged prostate gland
- You have problems with face and tongue movements
- You have liver or kidney problems
If you are not sure if any of the above apply to you, talk to your doctor or pharmacist before taking Arpicolin.
Taking other medicines:
Please tell your doctor or pharmacist if you are taking or have recently taken any other medicines. This includes medicines you buy without a prescription, including herbal medicines. This is because procyclidine can affect the way some other medicines work. Also some medicines can affect the way procyclidine works.
Tell your doctor if you are taking any of these medicines
- Medicines used to treat schizophrenia (such as clozapine)
- Medicines used for depression (such as amitriptyline and paroxetine)
- Medicines used for Parkinson’s Disease (such as levodopa or amantadine) (also used to treat some viral infections)
- Ketoconazole - used to treat some fungal infections
- Medicines used to treat Alzheimer’s disease (such as tacrine and memantine)
- Medicines used to treat an irregular heart beat (such as quinidine, disopyramide)
- Nefopam used as a painkiller
- Antihistamines - used for allergies
- Nitrate tablets that dissolve in the mouth - used to treat angina pain
- Medicines used to treat nausea and vomiting (such as domperidone, metoclopramide)
If you are taking a mixture of procyclidine and medicines for psychoses (e.g. chlorpromazine, trifluoperazine), you should be aware that going to a hot, humid climate may cause fever.
Pregnancy and Breast-feeding
Talk to your doctor before taking this medicine if you are pregnant, planning to become pregnant or are breast-feeding.
Driving and using machines
While taking this medicine you may feel light-headed, your eye-sight can become blurry or you could get an unusual feeling of excitement (elation). If this happens, you should not drive a car or use any tools or machines.
Important information about what is in Arpicolin
This medicine contains:
- Methyl and propyl parahydroxybenzoates. These may cause an allergic reaction. This allergy may happen some time after starting the medicine
- Liquid maltitol. If your doctor has told you that you cannot tolerate some sugars, see your doctor before taking this medicine
- Ethanol (alcohol). This product contains small amount of alcohol, less than 100mg per dose
How to take Arpicolin
Take this medicine as your doctor or pharmacist has told you. Look on the label and ask the doctor or pharmacist if you are not sure.
Taking this medicine
- This medicine contains 2.5mg of procyclidine hydrochloride in each 5ml.
- Take this medicine by mouth
Adults
The usual doses for adults are given below:
Parkinsonism
- A total daily dose of 30mg each day
- This dose may be increased up to 60mg by your doctor
- This dose can be split into two or three smaller doses to be taken through the day
- At the start of treatment you may be asked to take 2.5mg three times each day
- This may be increased further by 2.5mg – 5mg daily every 2-3 days until your symptoms are under control
Parkinsonism that is caused by other medicines
- Usually not more than 20mg each day
- Your doctor may stop treatment after 3-4 months to check if you still need the treatment
Children
This medicine is not usually given to children.
Elderly
If you are an older person you may be more sensitive to the medicine. The chances of you getting side effects are increased.
If you take more Arpicolin than you should
Talk to a doctor or go to a hospital straight away. Take the medicine pack with you so the doctor knows what you have taken. The following effects may happen: feeling restless or agitated, feeling confused, unable to sleep, pupils becoming larger and unusually fast heart beats. These can last up to 4 days. Hearing or seeing things that are not there may also happen.
If you forget to take Arpicolin
Do not take a double dose (two doses at the same time) to make up for forgotten doses. Skip the missed dose then go on as before.
If you stop taking Arpicolin
Keep taking procyclidine until your doctor tells you to stop. Do not stop taking your medicine suddenly.
If you have any further questions on the use of this medicine, ask your doctor or pharmacist.
Possible side effects
Like all medicines, procyclidine can cause side effects, although not everybody gets them.
If you get any of the following side effects, see your doctor as soon as possible:
- Hallucinations
- Difficulty in passing water (urine)
- Blurred vision and dizziness
- Feeling confused, worried, nervous or irritable
- Reduced concentration or memory
Tell your doctor if you get any of these side effects:
- Dry mouth
- Feeling sick (nausea) or being sick (vomiting)
- Constipation
- Inflamed gums
- Skin rashes
If you are taking tranquilisers
If you are taking tranquillisers, you may notice you have unusual body movements, particularly your hands, arms and legs. If you are taking procyclidine to control these side effects, you may notice that these side effects become worse. If this happens, see you doctor, who may then change the dose of your tranquilliser.
If any of the side effects get serious, or if you notice any side effects not listed in this leaflet, please tell your doctor or pharmacist.
How to store Arpicolin
- Keep out of the reach and sight of children.
- Do not store above 25°C.
- Do not use after the expiry date which is stated on the label and carton (exp: month, year)
- The expiry date refers to the last day of that month
- Do not use Arpicolin if you notice that the appearance or smell of your medicine has changed. Talk to your pharmacist.
- Medicines should not be disposed of via wastewater or household waste. Ask your pharmacist how to dispose of medicine no longer required. These measures will help to protect the environment
Further information
What Arpicolin contains
- The active ingredient is procyclidine hydrochloride.
- The other ingredients are citric acid (E330), sodium citrate (E331), methyl hydroxybenzoate (E218), propyl hydroxybenzoate (E216), propylene glycol (E1520), liquid maltitol (E965), grape flavour (containing propylene glycol), blackcurrant flavour (containing propylene glycol and ethanol) and purified water.
What Arpicolin looks like and contents of the pack
A colourless solution with an odour of blackcurrant and grape.
It comes in a brown glass bottle holding 150ml of solution.
Marketing Authorisation Holder and Manufacturer
This leaflet was last revised in April 2008.
P0411
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