Emgard 15mg Tablet
Prescription Required
Product introduction
Emgard 15mg Tablet belongs to a class of medicines called barbiturates. It is used to treat and prevent epilepsy (seizures). They also have hypnotic properties. This means, they slow down the activity of the brain and can make you feel sleepy or dizzy.
Emgard 15mg Tablet may be taken with or without food. However, it is advised to take it at the same time each day as this helps to maintain a consistent level of medicine in the body. Take this medicine in the dose and duration as advised by your doctor as it may be habit-forming with long-term use. If you have missed a dose, take it as soon as you remember it. Do not skip any doses and finish the full course of treatment even if you feel better.
Some common side effects of this medicine include nausea, diarrhea, hyperactivity, depression, confusion, decreased blood pressure, and fatigue. It may also cause dizziness and sleepiness, so do not drive or do anything that requires mental focus until you know how this medicine affects you.
Remember to consult your doctor if you notice severe rashes, especially accompanied by fever after taking this medicine. It should be noted that long-term use of this medicine can cause pain in joints also.
Emgard 15mg Tablet may be taken with or without food. However, it is advised to take it at the same time each day as this helps to maintain a consistent level of medicine in the body. Take this medicine in the dose and duration as advised by your doctor as it may be habit-forming with long-term use. If you have missed a dose, take it as soon as you remember it. Do not skip any doses and finish the full course of treatment even if you feel better.
Some common side effects of this medicine include nausea, diarrhea, hyperactivity, depression, confusion, decreased blood pressure, and fatigue. It may also cause dizziness and sleepiness, so do not drive or do anything that requires mental focus until you know how this medicine affects you.
Remember to consult your doctor if you notice severe rashes, especially accompanied by fever after taking this medicine. It should be noted that long-term use of this medicine can cause pain in joints also.
Uses of Emgard Tablet
Benefits of Emgard Tablet
In Epilepsy/Seizures
Emgard 15mg Tablet slows down electrical signals in the brain which cause seizures (fits). It can also help reduce symptoms such as confusion, uncontrollable jerking movements, loss of awareness, and fear or anxiety. The medicine can allow you to do some activities that you would otherwise be forbidden or scared to do (such as swimming and driving). It can take a few weeks for this medicine to work (because the dose has to be increased slowly) and during this time you may still have seizures. Do not stop using this medicine even if you feel well, until your doctor advises you to. Missing doses may trigger a seizure.
Side effects of Emgard Tablet
Most side effects do not require any medical attention and disappear as your body adjusts to the medicine. Consult your doctor if they persist or if you’re worried about them
Common side effects of Emgard
- Drowsiness
- Nausea
- Diarrhea
- Hyperactivity
- Depression
- Confusion
- Decreased blood pressure
- Fatigue
- Headache
- Dizziness
- Constipation
- Excitement
- Hangover
How to use Emgard Tablet
Take this medicine in the dose and duration as advised by your doctor. Swallow it as a whole. Do not chew, crush or break it. Emgard 15mg Tablet may be taken with or without food, but it is better to take it at a fixed time.
How Emgard Tablet works
Emgard 15mg Tablet controls seizures or fits by increasing the action of GABA, a chemical messenger which suppresses the abnormal and excessive activity of the nerve cells in the brain.
Safety advice
Alcohol
UNSAFE
It is unsafe to consume alcohol with Emgard 15mg Tablet.
Pregnancy
CONSULT YOUR DOCTOR
Emgard 15mg Tablet is unsafe to use during pregnancy as there is definite evidence of risk to the developing baby. However, the doctor may rarely prescribe it in some life-threatening situations if the benefits are more than the potential risks. Please consult your doctor.
Breast feeding
CONSULT YOUR DOCTOR
Emgard 15mg Tablet is probably unsafe to use during breastfeeding. Limited human data suggests that the drug may pass into the breastmilk and harm the baby.
Monitor the baby for sleepiness, skin rash, and feeding issues.
Monitor the baby for sleepiness, skin rash, and feeding issues.
Driving
UNSAFE
Emgard 15mg Tablet may cause side effects which could affect your ability to drive.
Kidney
CAUTION
Emgard 15mg Tablet should be used with caution in patients with kidney disease. Dose adjustment of Emgard 15mg Tablet may be needed. Please consult your doctor.
Use of Emgard 15mg Tablet is not recommended in patients with severe kidney disease.
Use of Emgard 15mg Tablet is not recommended in patients with severe kidney disease.
Liver
CAUTION
Emgard 15mg Tablet should be used with caution in patients with liver disease. Dose adjustment of Emgard 15mg Tablet may be needed. Please consult your doctor.
Use of Emgard 15mg Tablet is not recommended in patients with severe liver disease.
Use of Emgard 15mg Tablet is not recommended in patients with severe liver disease.
All substitutes
For informational purposes only. Consult a doctor before taking any medicines.
No substitutes found for this medicine
Quick tips
- Emgard 15mg Tablet helps in treatment and prevention of seizures.
- It may be habit-forming with long-term use.
- Talk with your doctor if it stops working well. Do not take more than prescribed.
- It may make you very sleepy. Don't drive or do anything that requires mental focus until you know how it affects you.
- Inform your doctor if you notice pain in your joints or if you have a history of bone disease.
- Get regular blood tests done to monitor the amount of medication in your body.
- Talk to your doctor immediately if you notice skin rash accompanied with fever.
- Do not stop taking the medication suddenly without talking to your doctor.
Fact Box
Chemical Class
Barbituric Acid Derivative
Habit Forming
Yes
Therapeutic Class
NEURO CNS
Action Class
Barbiturate
Patient concerns
FAQs
What is Emgard 15mg Tablet used for?
Emgard 15mg Tablet is prescribed to control seizures or fits. Emgard 15mg Tablet belongs to barbiturate group of medicines. In exceptional circumstances, it is also used to treat seizures that sometimes accompany a high fever in children.
What if I forget to take Emgard 15mg Tablet?
If you forget to take a dose, take it as soon as you remember. However, if it is time for the next dose, skip the forgotten dose and take the next dose. Do not double the dose to make up for the forgotten dose.
Can Emgard 15mg Tablet cause addiction?
Yes, Emgard 15mg Tablet may cause addiction in patients with a history of alcoholism and drug abuse if they take it for a prolonged time. Therefore, Emgard 15mg Tablet should be avoided in such patients.
What are the long-term side effects of Emgard 15mg Tablet?
Long-term use of phenobarbital can lead to changes in the soft tissues of the body. Symptoms include pain in the joints or thickening in areas such as the palm or the bottom of the foot. If you notice any changes of this kind, tell the doctor.
Can I stop taking Emgard 15mg Tablet once my seizures get controlled?
No, you should not stop taking Emgard 15mg Tablet without consulting your doctor. Sudden withdrawal can cause sleeplessness, anxiety, tremor, dizziness, feeling sick, fits and delirium. The dose of Emgard 15mg Tablet should be reduced gradually.
What will happen if I accidentally take more than the recommended dose of Emgard 15mg Tablet?
Swallowing more than the recommended doses may cause drowsiness, speech problems, jerky movements, jerky eye movements, loss of inhibition, reduced reflex response, low body temperature, low blood pressure and breathing problems. Contact your nearest hospital emergency services or your doctor immediately.
What are the effects of Emgard 15mg Tablet in children?
Emgard 15mg Tablet is useful in treating many kinds of seizures in children. It is often considered as the first choice to treat certain kinds of seizures in newborns. The child taking Emgard 15mg Tablet treatment may develop problems with behavior and learning. Side effects are much more likely to be troublesome if high doses are given or if too high a dose is given at the beginning of the treatment. It may be necessary to increase the dose very slowly over several months.
Can I take folic acid with Emgard 15mg Tablet?
Emgard 15mg Tablet causes folic acid deficiency which is responsible for certain types of anemia (megaloblastic anemia) in some patients. But if you take folic acid, then it may decrease the levels of Emgard 15mg Tablet in your body. This may lead to seizures. Therefore, folic acid should be avoided.
For how long do I need to take Emgard 15mg Tablet?
You should take Emgard 15mg Tablet for the duration advised by your doctor. This drug has a habit-forming effect, therefore, its long-term use is not recommended.
Are there any tests available which check the levels of Emgard 15mg Tablet in the blood?
Yes, laboratory tests are available. If you feel excessively sleepy and experience tremor or balance issues or double vision, inform your doctor and get the levels checked.
Can Emgard 15mg Tablet cause withdrawal symptoms?
Yes, suddenly stopping Emgard 15mg Tablet can cause withdrawal symptoms which include sleeplessness, anxiety, tremor, dizziness, nausea, fits, and delirium.
Disclaimer:
Tata 1mg's sole intention is to ensure that its consumers get information that is expert-reviewed, accurate and trustworthy. However, the information contained herein should NOT be used as a substitute for the advice of a qualified physician. The information provided here is for informational purposes only. This may not cover everything about particular health conditions, lab tests, medicines, all possible side effects, drug interactions, warnings, alerts, etc. Please consult your doctor and discuss all your queries related to any disease or medicine. We intend to support, not replace, the doctor-patient relationship.References
- McNamara JO. Pharmacotherapy of the Epilepsies. In: Brunton LL, Chabner BA, Knollmann BC, editors. Goodman & Gilman’s: The Pharmacological Basis of Therapeutics. 12th ed. New York, New York: McGraw-Hill Medical; 2011. pp. 593-94.
- Porters RJ, Meldrum BS. Antiseizure Drugs. In: Katzung BG, Masters SB, Trevor AJ, editors. Basic and Clinical Pharmacology. 11th ed. New Delhi, India: Tata McGraw Hill Education Private Limited; 2009. p. 407.
- Briggs GG, Freeman RK, editors. A Reference Guide to Fetal and Neonatal Risk: Drugs in Pregnancy and Lactation. 10th ed. Philadelphia, PA: Wolters Kluwer Health; 2015. pp. 1101-104.
Marketer details
Name: Medopharm
Address: 25,Puliyur 2'nd Main Road, Trustpuram, Kodambakkam, Chennai, Tamilnadu, India, Pincode 600024
Country of origin: India
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