Mysoline Tablet: Uses, Dosage, Side Effects, Precautions and Alternates

Quick overview

Mysoline Tablet contains primidone, an anticonvulsant from the barbiturate class of antiepileptic medicines. It is used alone or with other medicines to control different types of seizures in adults and children. Mysoline is thought to work by calming overactive electrical activity in the brain, and part of it breaks down into phenobarbital, which also helps calm nerve activity. It is available as a tablet.

What is Mysoline Tablet

Mysoline is a prescription anti-seizure medicine that contains primidone. It is used alone or with other medicines to control different types of seizures in adults and children.

Mysoline Tablet uses

• Epilepsy (repeated seizures)
• Generalized tonic-clonic (grand mal) seizures
• Complex partial (psychomotor) seizures
• Partial (focal) epileptic seizures, including Jacksonian seizures
• Myoclonic (involuntary) jerks
• Akinetic attacks (sudden loss of muscle tone)
• Essential tremor (mentioned as a related use)

Benefits of Mysoline Tablet

• Helps control epileptic seizures
• Reduces seizure frequency
• Helps manage focal seizures
• Helps control generalized tonic-clonic seizures
• May reduce essential tremor

How Mysoline Tablet works

Primidone is thought to work by calming overactive electrical activity in the brain, which helps stop seizures from starting or spreading. Part of the drug breaks down in the body into phenobarbital, another substance that helps calm nerve activity in the brain.

Mysoline Tablet dosage

Take Mysoline regularly at the same time each day. Your doctor or pharmacist will tell you how often to take it each day. Do not stop taking it or change the dose without checking with your doctor, since stopping suddenly can cause seizures to return or a withdrawal reaction. If you forget a dose, take it as soon as you remember if it's not too close to the next dose; otherwise skip it and continue as normal — never take two doses together to make up for a missed one.

It can be taken with or without food. Swallow the tablet whole with water; do not chew, crush, or break it unless your doctor says it's okay. It may take several weeks before you feel the full benefit of this medicine. You may need regular blood tests so your doctor can check your progress and adjust your dose. Doses for children under a certain age may be based on body weight and may need to change if the child's weight changes.

Available forms and strengths

• Tablet

Side effects of Mysoline Tablet

Common

• Drowsiness or tiredness
• Dizziness or feeling of spinning (vertigo)
• Unsteadiness or problems with walking or coordination
• Nausea or vomiting
• Loss of appetite
• Headache
• Visual disturbances, including double vision
• Painful joints
• Mood changes or irritability
• Tremor
• Sexual problems, including impotence
• Worsening of epilepsy symptoms

Serious

• Signs of an allergic reaction: rash, itching or hives, swelling of the face, lips, tongue or throat, difficulty breathing
• Severe skin reaction: fever, sore throat, burning eyes, skin pain, red or purple rash with blistering and peeling
• Signs of liver problems such as yellowing of the skin or eyes
• Signs of unusual bleeding or bruising under the skin
• Signs of low blood cell counts: fever, swollen glands, sore throat, frequent infections, unusual tiredness, shortness of breath
• Extreme drowsiness or suddenly falling asleep
• Thoughts of suicide or self-harm, or thoughts of harming others
• New or worsening depression, anxiety, panic attacks, trouble sleeping, agitation, irritability, aggression, restlessness, or unusual increase in activity or talking
• Increase in aggressive behaviour, irritability or agitation
• Worsening or blistering rash

Warnings and precautions

Do not stop taking this medicine or change the dose without checking with your doctor first, because stopping suddenly can cause seizures to return, sometimes seizures that will not stop. This medicine may cause suicidal thoughts or actions in a very small number of people. Watch for new or worsening depression, anxiety, agitation, irritability, aggression, or unusual changes in mood or behavior. Do not take this medicine if you are allergic to primidone, phenobarbital, or any of the ingredients, or if you have a rare metabolic disorder called porphyria. Women who can become pregnant should use effective contraception while taking this medicine, since it can seriously harm an unborn baby, and the medicine may also make birth control pills less effective. This medicine can interact with many other medicines, including blood thinners, other seizure medicines, antidepressants, hormonal birth control, and medicines that cause drowsiness. Tell your doctor about everything you take.

Mysoline is not recommended during pregnancy because it can harm the unborn baby and cause birth defects or affect how the baby develops. However, you should not stop taking it suddenly without your doctor's advice, because uncontrolled seizures also carry risks for mother and baby. Talk to your doctor if you are or might become pregnant.

Talk to your doctor before breastfeeding while taking this medicine, since it passes into breast milk and may make the baby very sleepy. Watch your baby carefully and tell your doctor if the baby becomes unusually sleepy or hard to wake.

Check with your doctor if you have kidney problems before taking this medicine. Check with your doctor if you have liver problems before taking this medicine.

Be careful when drinking alcohol while taking this medicine, as it may increase the effects of alcohol and worsen drowsiness or dizziness.

Be careful before driving or using machines or tools until you know how this medicine affects you, since it can make you sleepy and slow your reactions.

Storage

• Store it in a cool dry place away from moisture, heat or sunlight where the temperature stays below 25°C
• Keep your MYSOLINE tablets in the bottle until it is time to take them
• Keep it where young children cannot reach it
• If you no longer need the medicine or it is out of date, take it to a pharmacy for safe disposal
• Do not use this medicine after the expiry date
• Store at room temperature between 68° to 77°F (20° to 25°C) in a tight, light-resistant container

When to see a doctor

• Get emergency help right away for signs of a severe allergic reaction, such as rash, hives, swelling of the face, lips, tongue or throat, or difficulty breathing.
• Tell your doctor immediately or go to the emergency department if you have any thoughts of suicide or self-harm, or thoughts of harming others.
• Call your doctor right away if you notice signs of infection like fever, swollen glands, sore throat, or unusual tiredness and bruising, which could mean a blood problem.
• Seek urgent medical help if you think you or someone else has taken too much of this medicine, even if there are no symptoms yet, since overdose can cause unsteadiness, severe drowsiness, loss of consciousness, slowed breathing, or dangerous heart rhythm problems.
• Report yellowing of the skin or eyes, which can be a sign of liver problems, to your doctor right away.

Alternatives

• Valproate
• Levetiracetam
• Primidone