Before Using This Medicine

In deciding to use a medicine, the risks of taking the medicine must be weighed against the good it will do. This is a decision you and your doctor will make. For phenacemide, the following should be considered:

Allergies—Tell your doctor if you have ever had any unusual or allergic reaction to phenacemide or any other anticonvulsant medicines in the past. Also tell your health care professional if you are allergic to any other substances, such as foods, preservatives, or dyes.

Pregnancy—Phenacemide has been reported to cause birth defects when taken by the mother during pregnancy. However, this medicine may be necessary to control seizures in some pregnant patients. Be sure you have discussed this with your doctor. In addition, when taken during pregnancy, phenacemide may cause a bleeding problem in the mother during delivery and in the newborn. This may be prevented by giving vitamin K to the mother 1 month before and during delivery, and to the baby immediately after birth.

Breast-feeding—It is not known whether this medicine passes into breast milk.

Children—Although there is no specific information comparing use of phenacemide in children with use in other age groups, this medicine is not expected to cause different side effects or problems in children than it does in adults.

Older adults—Many medicines have not been studied specifically in older people. Therefore, it may not be known whether they work exactly the same way they do in younger adults. Although there is no specific information comparing use of phenacemide in the elderly with use in other age groups, this medicine is not expected to cause different side effects or problems in older people than it does in younger adults.

Other medicines—Although certain medicines should not be used together at all, in other cases 2 different medicines may be used together even if an interaction might occur. In these cases, your doctor may want to change the dose, or other precautions may be necessary. When you are taking phenacemide, it is especially important that your health care professional know if you are taking the following:

• Other anticonvulsants—Use of phenacemide may increase the chance of serious side effects

Other medical problems—The presence of other medical problems may affect the use of phenacemide. Make sure you tell your doctor if you have any other medical problems, especially:

• Blood disease or
• Kidney disease or
• Liver disease or
• Personality disorder (mental illness)—Phenacemide may make the condition worse