Chloral Hydrate (Systemic)

Brand Names : Aquachloral Supprettes, Novo-Chlorhydrate, PMS-Chloral Hydrate

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 chloral hydrate, the following should be considered:

Allergies - Tell your doctor if you have ever had any unusual or allergic reaction to chloral hydrate. Also tell your health care professional if you are allergic to any other substances, such as foods, preservatives, or dyes.

Pregnancy - Studies on birth defects have not been done in either humans or animals. Too much use of chloral hydrate during pregnancy may cause the baby to become dependent on the medicine. This may lead to withdrawal side effects after birth.

Breast-feeding - Chloral hydrate passes into the breast milk and may cause drowsiness in babies of mothers using this medicine.

Children - This medicine comes in different strengths. Serious problems, including deaths, have occurred when children were given the wrong strength. Make sure your doctor has told your pharmacist both how many milligrams (mg) and how many capsules, teaspoonfuls, or suppositories your child should receive . This information is needed to be sure the right amount is given. With proper use, 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 chloral hydrate 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 two 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 chloral hydrate, it is especially important that your health care professional know if you are taking any of the following:

• Anticoagulants (blood thinners) - Chloral hydrate may change the amount of anticoagulant you need to take

• Central nervous system (CNS) depressants (medicine that causes drowsiness) or
• Tricyclic antidepressants (medicine for depression) - Using these medicines and chloral hydrate together may increase the CNS and other depressant effects

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

• Alcohol abuse or dependence (or history of) or
• Drug abuse or dependence (or history of) - Dependence on chloral hydrate may develop

• Colitis or
• Proctitis or inflammation of the rectum - Chloral hydrate used rectally may make the condition worse

• Esophagitis or inflammation of the esophagus, or
• Gastritis or inflammation of the stomach, or
• Stomach ulcers - Chloral hydrate taken by mouth may make the condition worse

• Heart disease - Chloral hydrate may make the condition worse

• Kidney disease or
• Liver disease - Higher blood levels of chloral hydrate may occur, increasing the chance of side effects

• Porphyria - Acute attacks may be set off by chloral hydrate

• Sleep problems in children (especially in those with enlarged tonsils) - Risk of breathing problems may be increased